The 2004 United Way Day of Caring was held on September 14, 2004. The Day of Caring is designed to place people from the community into projects that benefit the family of agencies that are supported by United Way donations. This not only helps the agencies, but also gives those in the community an opportunity to see first hand the good these organizations do.

Local 2195 participated in the event by a gate collection that benefited four local agencies and by building two wheel chair ramps. In Morgan County, Wayne Yarbrough, Ricky Segars, Vann Owens, Randy Campbell, Richard Grant, Charles Aldridge, Steve Sloan and Jackie Stover built a ramp for Annie Kellum. This ramp was built through the Volunteer Center. In Limestone County, Wayne Kuykenall, Ronnie Cornelison, Kenny Blythe, Danny Johnson, Mike Hardaway, Martina Mitchell, Shelia McCarley and Paul Miller built a ramp for an elderly couple through C.A.S.A. Each group did a great job and came away with a feeling of accomplishment.

The gate collection netted $3112 that covered the material expense for the Morgan County ramp, with the remainder being split between four agencies. Morgan-Lawrence County Chapter of the American Red Cross, F.A.C.E.S. (Families & Children Experiencing Separation), the Birdie Thornton Center and Hospice of Limestone County each received a check for $600. The money will be used to assist the agencies in their day-to-day operations that cover the elderly, victims of disasters, foster children, the terminally ill and those with mental and physical handicaps. Each of the four agencies expressed their thanks to the people of the Alabama Site for their generosity.

The annual Delphi-UAW United Way Drive officially kicks off on September 15 and will run through October 31. The corporation will utilize Internet for donations. The web site can be found at http://delphiunitedway.kindmark.com. To make a change to your contribution simply logon on and determine the amount of your donation or to designate a specific agency. This year’s campaign coordinators are Jackie Stover of PC&L and Paul Miller of Plant 23 Engineering.

“I am pleased to be working as a United Way volunteer this year,” states Loaned Executive Jackie Stover. “The local United Way organizations support over sixty agencies that in some way touch us all. I know my family has been helped by some of these services.

I encourage each of you to open your heart and give your fair share (minimum of one hour’s pay per month). We are lucky to work in jobs that are much higher compensated that the average in our communities. I feel very strongly that those of us more fortunate financially have a responsibility to make sure we give our fair share or more.

Become a leader! Your community desperately needs your support. Will these agencies be there when you need them? Only continued support from contributors will insure their services. You cannot imagine how important your contribution is. You will touch the lives of many people. After all, isn’t that our responsibility, to impact the lives of others? Please give to the United Way of your choice. Thank you from the many that cannot express their appreciation!”

If you wish to keep your donation the same, simply do nothing. If you wish to make a change please access the website to do so. The United Way touches so many lives in our communities and makes a huge difference. Most of the agencies express that any governmental funding has been reduced over the past couple years so the need is much greater.

To some the very idea of the United Way is a turnoff. In 1992, former United Way of America President William Aramony was fired under accusations of fraud and conspiracy. He and other former members of the United Way of American management have been serving sentences in federal prison. The United Way was reorganized with safe guards put in place to prevent that from happening again. Local United Way Chapters operate independent of United Way of America, and send less than 1% of their collected funds to the national organization. In addition, less than 7% of collected funds are actually used by the United Way. The remainder of the funds are distributed among the agencies the United Way supports. This 7% covers the cost of fund raising expense such as posters, informational material, and advertising. In a nutshell the United Way is simply a process for relief agencies to outsource their fund raising activities to professionals so they can concentrate on what they do best; helping others.

A donation to the United Way represents a donation to help others. The family of United Way agencies support a number of community programs including family support, help for the elderly, programs for special needs citizens, county youth organizations and supportive programs. If you don’t like some of the agencies supported, simply designate which agency you wish to receive your donation. It’s that simple.

It is easy to develop the idea that “since things are bad, I need to keep everything for my family.” However, bad economic times hit relief agencies very hard, because people cut back on their donations. However it is times such as these that need becomes the greatest. We are so blessed with what we have been given. However, we should never forget that everything we have could be gone in the blink of an eye. A person can fool themselves by saying the need simply isn’t there, but that is not true. The need exist all around us if we simply open our eyes. In each person’s life they have the opportunity to be involved with charitable organizations, either on the giving end or the receiving end. If you can stay on the giving end, then your blessings are indeed innumerable. During the next few weeks we will be highlighting a number of the United Way agencies and the services they provide in our communities. Please take the time to read over this information and see what the family of United Way agencies does in our communities.