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The Volunteer Connection by Margaret Shultz

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Last week, St. Joseph County United Way proudly announced that $732,970 was raised in the 2012 fundraising campaign, about 8% more than last year.  Those funds are distributed to local nonprofit agencies that meet urgent needs such as food and shelter, provide programming for youth, or provide services that address other human needs.  Over the course of the year, these funds touch the lives of thousands of people in our county.  Hungry people are fed.  Homeless people have a warm, safe place to spend the night.  Kids get to play sports and go to camp and learn new things from a caring adult mentor or a scout leader.  People nearing the end of life are comforted and cared for.  Victims of fire and accidents and natural disasters are given shelter and clothing.  These are the things that caring people do for their neighbors and St. Joseph County does it to a remarkable extent.

This kind of United Way success happens only because of a very large group of generous and talented volunteers.  In businesses all over the county, employees step up to coordinate the internal fundraising campaign and to share United Way’s message with their colleagues.  Volunteers from all walks of life help with United Way special events, such as the silent auction at the fair, an annual golf outing, celebrity waiter nights at local restaurants, pancake breakfasts, the Sturgis Hospital roofsit, and so many more fun activities.  Leading the charge this past year were Honorary Campaign Co-Chairs, Rick and Sara Daniels.  Thanks to their special efforts among the school districts in the county, donations from the educational community increased by an amazing 60%.

At United Way there is no down time.  As soon as one fundraising campaign ends, the next one begins.  We need your help to keep the momentum going and to help our nonprofits to continue doing the important work that they do.  We need YOUR help.  I mean YOU…the person reading this!  Over the next few weeks we will be setting the calendar for the coming year and making a list of the kinds of help we need.  From time to time I will share those needs here.  If you belong to a group that would like to hold a fundraising event to benefit United Way our Executive Director, Kelly Hostetler, would love to talk with you.  Call our office at 269-467-9099 to offer your time and talents or to find out what we need.

I have one other volunteer opportunity to share with you.  The Triple Creek Dash is a run scheduled for April 13 in the Three Rivers area.  The purpose of the run is to promote cancer awareness, education, research, and early detection.  Volunteers are needed to help with many tasks including registering participants, setting up the course, distributing water along the race, and distributing food.  All volunteers will receive a free t-shirt and refreshments.  If you are interested in helping, call Sally or Niki at 269-278-8722 or pick up a volunteer application at HealthTRAC on the campus of Three Rivers Health.

Other programs in St. Joseph County that are looking for volunteers and would like to be included in this weekly column are encouraged to register with United Way.  Contact Margaret Shultz, Volunteer Services Specialist, at 269-467-9099 or at volunteer.sjcuw@gmail.com.


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