United Way sets $600,000 goal for 2014

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The United Way of Van Wert County is hoping its 2014 campaign goal of $600,000 will cause some area residents to open their eyes to the need for services provided by the United Way’s 24 member agencies.

In fact, “Open Your Eyes” is the slogan for this year’s campaign, and Campaign Chair Scott Mull said during this year’s kickoff on Wednesday that the phrase has two meanings, in his mind: 1. To look around and see the need among area residents, and, 2., to see and understand what the United Way’s member agencies provide to the community.

Mull acknowledged that this year’s goal is an ambitious one, noting it is $100,000 higher than the unsuccessful $500,000 goal of the last few years. For example, last year’s campaign raised just $436,000 — 87.2 percent of the 2013 goal.

But he noted the goal is realistic, since it represents the actual budgetary needs of the agencies, based on the United Way’s detailed annual admissions and review process.

Mull said this year’s campaign committee spent some time talking about what it wanted to do for this year’s campaign.

“(We were) kind of throwing ideas out, and figuring out something new that would kind of raise some eyebrows … and hopefully surpass that stagnant level we’ve been at the past few years,” he noted. “We wanted to challenge the community to step up and support the United Way and those member agencies the best that they can.“

Mull said the need in the community has increased, not decreased, over the past few years, with more services being provided by agencies, as well as agencies seeing increases in normal operating expenses.

“We’re told every day that the level of need has gone up (when) the member agencies come back and report to us,” the campaign chair added, noting that each United Way member agency has to compile a detailed report that includes its financial information and the needs and costs of its operations.

2014 Day of Caring Chair Jessica Hardesty talked about that event, scheduled for this Friday, noting that the goal is to bring in 30,000 food items during the food drive and receive 190 units in blood from the blood drive.

Hardesty noted, though, that, since The Salvation Army distributes approximately 10,000 items of food each month, the 30,000 items is only enough to get the agency through this coming January.

Although Mull said the lofty campaign goal will definitely be a challenge, the United Way got a very positive boost from Central Insurance Companies, this year’s Pacesetter organization.

Central campaign representatives announced Wednesday that company employees pledged $66,539 towards this year’s campaign, an increase of more than $5,000 over last year. With Central matching the employee contributions dollar-for-dollar, the total Central campaign contribution is $133,079.20.

The United Way has also come up with a new fundraising program to assist farmers in making a contribution to the organization. The Grains of Giving program allows farmers to specify and donate a number of bushels of grain to the United Way when they transport their harvest into area grain elevators. The grain would then be sold and the money given to the United Way.

Meanwhile, individuals who are not part of a United Way giving program at their place of employment can donate directly to the organization. Those wanting to do so can find the United Way on Facebook (United Way of Van Wert County), visit the United Way website (www.unitedwayvanwert.org) or call the county United Way office at 419.238.6689.