The Day of Caring is an opportunity for people to give a Saturday morning to help local non-profit organizations, and get to know more about the needs of their neighbors and the many human service agencies that are working to meet those needs in Lebanon County.

Sincerely,

Khrista Dechert

Development & Communications Assistant                  United Way of Lebanon County

Valerie A. Stokes

2010 United Way Board President 

As we march into spring our United Way is a veritable beehive of activity.   Many committees are energetically laying out their plans for their program of work as others are putting the finishing touches on programs and events.  We've had the wrap -up of the fund raising campaign for 2009 and have already had the kick-off meeting of the 2010 campaign cabinet lead by this year's campaign chair, Robert Hoffman.  This will be the fourth time Bob has served in this capacity and we are so thankful to have the task in his capable hands.

While it's been a lot of meetings, it has certainly been wonderful for me, as board president and ex-officio on the committees, to be witness to all of this recent activity.    The highlight for me, however, would have to be the work done in the past month and a half on the allocations panels.  In my estimation this is among the most important work that we do, if not the most important.   Being certain we are good stewards of the money which was generously donated through our campaigns, and by individuals, is a task taken extremely seriously by everyone involved.   Forty- eight community volunteers, including several United Way Board participants, made up six panels who interviewed the 28 agencies affiliated with the United Way.   Panelists visited and toured the local locations of the agencies and reviewed their financials.   Agencies were questioned on a myriad of topics pertaining to their missions and the local residents they serve.  Panelists sought to understand which agencies had expanded their programs and services or had increased units of service.  Lead by Agency Budget and Review Chair Wally Stephenson and Vice Chair Renee Numer the process was both thorough and smooth.

Now we'll be focusing on the next big projects which are the annual "Day of Caring" and the return of last year's very successful "Stuff the Bus" initiative.  

Many thanks, to all of you who support the United Way through your service and donations.    The effort of all Living United, neighbors helping neighbors, keeps our community a very special place to live.

Imagine tomorrow waking up to find that your family has left, your friends no longer call, your job is hanging by a thread and the only person you can talk to is a therapist who can't see you until next week.  It's a scary picture, but sometimes a harsh reality for people living with mental illness.

We all know the stigmas.  We've seen the movies where those with mental illness are seen as the abnormal in society and, due to this, we unconsciously begin to only see the illness and lose track of the person.  But it's that person that one organization is helping others to see and also helping those with mental illness have a friend to turn to outside of their regular network of therapists and social workers - this organization is Compeer.  Read more.