United Way of McLeod County Board President Kathy Silvernale announced today that the organization distributed $77,000 in checks to 42 partner agency/programs during the month of June. The monies represent second-half community investment grant allocations for 2009 United Way funding. An initial round of checks was delivered to agencies in January. The UWMC distributed $153,000 to partner agencies in 2009.

“On behalf of our partner agencies, the United Way of McLeod County wishes to thank all those who contributed to the 2008-09 campaign,” said Silvernale. “Those dollars are being used to fund worthy programs that are making a difference in so many lives in our area at this time. We are continually amazed by the generosity of the individual donors, small businesses and corporations throughout McLeod County that enable us to make these community investment grants.”

United Way of McLeod County Board President Kathy Silvernale announced today that the regional non-profit will partner with 42 agencies/programs in 2010. The organization recently completed its Community Investment Review for 2010 funding cycle, with a total of $237,952 in requests. The UWMC has a campaign goal this fall to raise $280,000 to impact communities county-wide by empowering partner agencies.

“After completing our annual application and interview process in May, we feel confident that the UWMC will again partner with outstanding agencies in 2010,” said Silvernale. “These agencies represent a cross-section of funded programs servicing McLeod County in emergency and basic needs, health and human services, child development and community development.”

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• The United Way of McLeod County is looking for a diverse group of people, who as members of the Board of Directors, would make policy in the areas of strategic planning, finance, fundraising, campaign, special events, staffing, and technology. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors are held on the second Tuesday of every month at 12:00 p.m. in locations throughout McLeod County.
• The UWMC is looking for creative and organized people with a variety of life experiences to serve on sub-committees. You do not need to be on the Board of Directors to help out on UWMC committees such as Campaign, Community Impact/Special Events, or Marketing/Communications. Committee meetings are held quarterly or seasonally as needed.
• If you have only one night a year to volunteer, the Community Investment Review may be right up your ally. Each year the UWMC invites 40-50 local 501c3 non-profits to present their programs before review teams consisting of Board of Directors and community volunteers. These teams decide which will be UWMC partner agencies and how much in Community Investment Allocations each will receive.
• During the annual Fall Campaign the UWMC is looking for volunteers to help assemble campaign packets, distribute posters county-wide, answer questions at the UWMC booth at the County Fair and Community Service Day.
• For volunteers looking for even more action, the UWMC needs help during its campaign Small Business Blitz and Corporate Campaign. We are looking for people who are comfortable going into local businesses to talk about United Way and its partner agencies and to drop-off campaign materials. Additionally, we are looking for folks with strong speaking skills to make presentations during campaign kick-offs at local corporations (Target, Lester Building, Seneca Foods etc.).
• For volunteers looking to stay behind the scenes, we have a wide variety of office projects to work on. For those with good phone skills, we have hundreds of “Thank You” and “Donor” calls to make each year.
• Day of Caring/Special Events – Volunteers help local nonprofit organizations with various projects. Examples are painting, cleaning, window washing, and several opportunities assisting with organization activities.
• The UWMC is looking for volunteers to help out with fundraisers at local restaurants (Culvers, Godfather’s, Burger King, Country Kitchen, etc.).
• If you are interested in volunteering please contact the UWMC by phone at 320-587-3613 or via e-mail at unitedw@hutchtel.net. Additionally, you can register to be a volunteer on-line at www.unitedwaymcleodcounty.org.

The United Way of McLeod County wants to remind people of the organization’s free, confidential and multilingual 2-1-1 community help line. Through a partnership with the Greater Twin Cities United Way, area residents can find numerous health and human services available in McLeod County 24 hours a day, seven days a week, just by dialing 2-1-1 or 1-800-543-7709 (outstate).

Every hour of every day, hundreds of people need essential human services – they are looking for training, employment, food pantries, help for an aging parent, addiction prevention programs for their teenage children, affordable housing options, support groups and ways of becoming part of their community. 2-1-1 allows people to give help and to get help.

2-1-1 is an easy to remember telephone number that connects people with important community services and volunteer opportunities. In 2008, 2-1-1 services in the United States answered more than 14 million calls. The implementation of 2-1-1 is spearheaded by United Ways and information and referral agencies in states and local communities. United Way of America (UWA) and the Alliance for Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) serve as partners for this community help line. 2-1-1 can offer access to the following types of services:

Basic Human Needs Resource: food banks, clothing, shelters, rent assistance, utility assistance.

Physical and Mental Health Resources: medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention, rehabilitation, maternal health.

Employment Support: unemployment benefits, financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance, education programs.

Support for Older Americans and Persons with Disabilities: home health care, adult day care, congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, respite care, transportation and homemaker services.

Support for Children, Youth and Families: Quality childcare, Success by 6, after school programs, Head Start, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, protective services.