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United Way kicks off annual fundraising campaign
Nevada Daily Mail
The United Way of Vernon County hosted its annual kickoff for this fall's campaign, with recipient agencies giving a brief overview of their services.
Board member Wes Knell welcomed those in attendance with this year's theme of Team Up with United Way, Stronger Together.
"Once again, we are asking for help from our community as we serve people in Vernon County. Our goal is the same as last year's, $112,000.
"We've added an additional agency (that will receive funds), with Vernon County Mental Health, giving us 19."
That segued to David Heumader, administrator for the district court, telling of the Mental Health and Recovery Courts.
Each has separate requirements to be eligible and both seek to provide treatment and oversight to help those graduate from the programs and return to being productive citizens as an alternative to lock up.
Rachel Grewe, membership marketing specialist with the Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland, noted her organization serves 66 counties, with an emphasis on courage, confidence and character, as well as "what most people think of," camping, crafts and cookies.
"United Way funds help us to provide financial assistance to anyone wanting to participate, with dues, uniforms and any other costs."
The Neighbors Center seeks to help caregivers and those individuals who can't leave their homes.
Nevada Youth Recreational Baseball serves youth in grades three through eight in the city, with 166 youth taking part this year.
"United Way funding allows us to offer scholarships for those who can't afford to play or can't afford the equipment," said President Brandon Fisher.
Michelle Morgan with Vernon County People for Pets described her group's efforts to provide spay and neuter services, which have reached some 4,000 animals.
Robin Anderson, development director, said Special Olympics uses its United Way funds to "pay for facility costs and incidentals for our area competitions." Special Olympians include those in grade school up through adult age.
"What we teach our athletes is not just about sports," she said.
Bill Reed with Children's Mercy Hospital said there were 193 overnight visits from Vernon County residents and some 1,500 outpatient visits.
"We provide care to every child regardless of ability to pay."
Mike Hanus, district executive for the Ozarks Trail Council, Boy Scouts of America, said approximately 80 boys from Nevada were involved in various troops and packs.
"United Way funding helps the boys with the cost to attend camp, earn their merit badges, and pay for uniforms."
Pat Miller with the University of Missouri Extension, Vernon County, told those in attendance that there were 423 participants in 4-H. Other programs available through extension include nutrition, health, and personal finance.
Director Barbara Long said Community Outreach provides a soup kitchen that offers lunch Monday through Friday from noon to 1 and has other offerings such as the Backpacks of Love, which provides food items to designated students in Nevada schools, and Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets to selected families.
Martha Sander with Council on Families in Crisis said United Way funding provides support for Moss House, a shelter that serves those who have been victims of sexual and domestic violence.
"We offer a 24-hour hotline, intervention, safety planning, and support groups. United Way support is very critical for us."
Jeani Longstreth with the Vernon County Child Advocacy Council, said, "Our sole purpose is the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
"We offer community education through our speakers bureau and we work through the schools to grow strong, healthy children, rather than repair broken adults."
United Way funding also helps provide scholarships for continuing education, she said.
"We follow up with our kids to help them complete their education and we assist our foster parents in providing a nurturing program."
The Children's Center of Southwest Missouri, which serves 12 counties through four locations, is building a new site in Nevada.
"We work with other professionals to help investigate suspected abuse of children," said Kathleen Kluthe, administrative assistant.
"Last year, we saw 1,018 children across 18 counties."
Vernon County Sheriff Jason Mosher, whose office operates the DARE program in the county schools, said United Way funding helps with the materials and curriculum costs.
Mike Parson, coordinator with the Vernon County Senior Center, noted the center, which is operated by Care Connection, provides local advocacy and a comprehensive range of services and resources, including tax help, in-home help, transportation, and health and wellness programs.
"We serve over 15,000 meals through our Meals on Wheels program and we have 45 seniors who take part at the center on a daily basis.
"Through our health promotion program, seniors have completed 400 units of physical fitness.
"Some 16.23 percent of our population in Vernon County is 60 and over. Over the next 15 years, that number will double."
Stacy Burks, executive director with the Red Cross of Southern Missouri, said her agency serves 29 counties.
"In Vernon County, we responded to 24 different disaster incidents involving 28 families. We had 884 units of blood donated.
"Sixty-nine percent of the families we served had no insurance and 57 percent of those cases, the income of the family was below $15,000.
"We provided $550 per family, per incident in the first 72 hours.
"In Vernon County we distributed $90,000 to families in need, ranging from shelter, to food, to medical help."
She added that the Red Cross also teaches CPR, first aid, and swimming.
Lawrence Wilson with the Vernon County Ministerial Alliance told the audience, "We work together with other agencies here to help people with emergency relief, food, shelter and utilities, both to Vernon County residents and to transients."
Colleen Haberkorn said Birthright's belief was that, "Every woman has the right to give birth and every child has the right to be born.
"We offer counseling, clothes and we connect women with whatever they need.
"We had 400 contacts in 2015 and we're monitoring 25 pregnancies in progress."
Following the birth, Birthright provides layettes to the families of the newborns.
Board member Ross Lawrence wrapped up the meeting by saying, "$112,000 is a lot of money but it's not when it starts going out.
"If we don't have the money to help our agencies, we're deciding who falls off the cliff.
"We're trying to help as many as we can. I challenge you in this room, our volunteers and our businesses, to help us reach our goal."
The United Way's major fundraiser, Oktoberfest, arrives Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each United Way member agency will have an information booth. There will be games, a petting zoo, and activities, all to raise awareness of the agencies and what they do in the community.
The chili competition returns again, with Lawrence asking for more teams.
"There's no cost to enter the chili competition. Please enter." Deadline to enter is Oct. 2.
Peggy Tedlock with United Way encouraged anyone with questions to "just ask."