Live United: 2020 campaign to launch virtually on Monday
Monday is a day I have been looking forward to all summer. At 3 p.m., the Centre County United Way 2020 campaign will officially kick off live on Facebook. While we usually invite friends from across the county to join us for this exciting event, we have altered the kickoff to a virtual environment so we can maintain social distance and be safe.
The Centre County United Way campaign is our largest initiative to raise essential dollars that support outcome-based programs that impact the education, financial stability, and health of our neighbors. These programs are coordinated by 28 nonprofit partner agencies. One in four Centre County residents benefit from a program or service that is funded by Centre County United Way.
This year, we are distributing more than $1.2 million to our partner agencies. Because of the generosity of the Hamer Foundation, a grant from the Truist Foundation, and our donors, we have disbursed $70,000 to help 80 households avoid a financial crisis due to the economic effects of the pandemic.
The 2020 campaign is more important than ever. Before the pandemic hit, 27 percent of Centre County households had challenges affording housing, health care, and other essentials. Today, more of our neighbors are closer to a financial crisis and our partner agencies are working hard to alleviate the crisis:
The YMCA of Centre County has distributed 260 tons of food to hungry families across the county since the pandemic started. They continue to provide meals to children who cannot attend school and are ready to feed children if their schools transition to a complete virtual environment.
Centre Helps’ 24/7 community hotline is navigating the local safety net for our friends and neighbors. Their call volumes are increasing, and Centre Helps is connecting people to resources that will keep them fed, sheltered, and financially stable.
While 11 percent of Centre County’s population is functionally illiterate, Mid-State Literacy Council’s dedicated volunteers mobilized to use online platforms and telephone calls to ensure adults continue to gain literacy skills, so they have access to gainful employment and healthcare.
The Arc of Centre County’s dedicated staff are essential workers who have worked every day to support people with disabilities, many of whom have chronic health challenges. The Arc’s dedicated employees continue to support people with disabilities in community residential homes, community-based in-home services, and competitive integrated employment supports while keeping them safe and healthy.
One of the ways we are bolstering our campaign to support our partner agencies is through Day of Caring. Normally, Day of Caring is where more than a thousand volunteers roll up their sleeves to help nonprofits complete projects such as landscaping and painting. To avoid the risks of the pandemic, we are altering the event to an online giving day. On Oct. 1, Day of Caring powered by PNC will launch. Donations can be made at Day-of-Caring.org on Oct. 1 to support our partner agencies who have had to cancel major fundraisers because of the pandemic but continue to provide essential services.
While these are challenging times, I am excited about this year’s campaign and the impact our community will have on our neighbors. Please join us Monday at 3 p.m. for our live virtual campaign kickoff by going to the Centre County United Way Facebook page. And mark your calendar for Thursday, Oct. 1 and visit Day-of-Caring.org to make a positive impact on your neighbors. We all work better when we Live United.