United Way caps extended campaign
The Daily Inter Lake
The United Way has concluded its fundraising campaign for the 2008 campaign, reaching 80 percent of its goal.
As of Feb. 28, when the 2008 campaign officially was declared closed, a total of $803,662 had been donated or pledged, according to a news release from United Way.
The goal for 2008 was $1 million. In 2007, the United Way raised $967,536.
The campaign was extended beyond its usual Dec. 31 deadline to allow donors to contribute in response to the increased requests for services among the member agencies.
"Along with everyone else, we are feeling the effects of the economic downturn we are experiencing in our valley and throughout the rest of our nation," said Sherry Stevens Wulf, executive director of the United Way. "Despite the economy, the United Way and its member agencies will continue to provide services to help those who are most in need in our Valley.
"We appreciate every donation and pledge that we received and will put the funds to good use in our community to respond to the ever-increasing needs of our member agencies. While our donations were down, people gave as generously as they could, in spite of the tough times we are facing."
Donor choice designations to specific agencies were down, Wulf said, while there was an increase in giving to the general Community Care Fund. There were more new contributors than ever before.
Current member agencies are the American Red Cross, Big Brothers and Sisters, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs of Glacier Country, Eagle Transit, First Call for Help-Net, Flathead CARE, Flathead Food Bank, Flathead Youth Home, Girl Scouts, Head Start, Literacy Volunteers, Mental Health Crisis Line, Nurturing Center, Retired & Senior Volunteer Program, Samaritan House, Sinopah House, Special Friends Advocacy Program, Summit Independent Living Center, Teen Night and the Violence Free Crisis Line/Abbie Shelter.
Services of the United Way include CASA for Kids, Disaster Care Services, Leaders of Tomorrow and the United Way Volunteer Center.
The United Way also supports the following emergency food and shelter programs in Northwest Montana: Bread Basket, Community Harvest Food Bank, DOVES, Helping Hands, Hot Springs Food Pantry, Lake County Mental Health Center, Libby Food Pantry, Mission Valley Food Pantry, Neighbors in Need, Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry, Salvation Army Feeding Program, Thompson Falls Food Pantry and Troy Food Pantry.
Donations received after Feb. 28 will go toward the 2009 United Way campaign.
The United Way, as well as its member agencies, are looking at ways to make donated dollars stretch as far as possible. Volunteers are always needed. To donate money or learn more about volunteer opportunities, call the United Way Volunteer Center at 752-7266.