Viewpoint: September is United Way campaign kick-off month

For over 30 years, Crawford County United Way (CCUW) has made a difference in the lives of people in our county. Whether it’s by putting a smile on the face of someone who is hungry, your neighbors receiving family or substance abuse counseling, helping to provide a safe place for a child who is victim of crime, providing personal items for local children in foster care, placing a free book into the tiny hands of a little one, supporting fun and educational opportunities at the library or through 4-H programs, supporting youth safety programs, or helping a hospital patient in crisis, your United Way supports them all. We all know someone who benefits, including our own family members.

September is Campaign Kick-Off Month. Part of that campaign involves asking local businesses to make a donation and to participate in our Payroll Deduction Program, encouraging their employees to donate just a dollar each week from their pay. If 1,000 employees who live in Crawford County made this pledge, your local United Way would raise $52,000, which would be an incredible blessing to the efforts of the local agencies we support. We really appreciate all the businesses and employees who have supported CCUW over many years. Be assured, your care and generosity make a difference.

Agencies receiving funding in 2018 were Munson Grayling Hospital Patient Needs Program, Crawford/Roscommon Foster Closet, Crawford County Community Christian Help Center, Crawford County Library Youth STEAM Program, G.R.A.C.E. Center, Crawford/Roscommon Child Protection Council, Crawford County MSU-Extension/4-H, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Crawford County, and Northern Michigan Children’s Assessment Center. 

We also support Neighborhood Connections and Kids’ Day in the Park, and provide a local scholarship for community service. We work in partnership with the FamilyWize Discount Prescription Drug Program to help with the cost of medicine, and support resource call center 2-1-1 Northeast Michigan.

From the data provided, these agencies help directly nearly 8,500 people, combined, and their work supports our stated mission to “engage our local agencies to provide the measurable tools to impact the lives of the most vulnerable in our community.” Crawford County United Way makes a big difference by raising funds for local distribution to help local people in need.

Please sign up for payroll deduction; make a monthly donation, or an annual donation. Participate in our fundraisers. Help us continue to help each other in our community. What’s raised here, stays here!

On September 27, our Campaign Kick-Off Spaghetti Dinner will be held at Fox Run Country Club from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The meal will be buffet-style, with fun and family-friendly entertainment by Chad Patterson with Gits & Shiggles, and a silent auction. We are asking for a donation at the door of $10 per person/$8 with three canned goods or $25 per family of four/$20 with three canned goods. All canned goods collected will be given to the Christian Help Center for distribution. 

For more information about our 2018-19 Campaign, our fundraisers, or to donate a silent auction item for the Kick-Off dinner, please call (989) 350-4462 or email crawforduw@gmail.com.  Send donations to: CCUW, P.O. Box 171, Grayling, MI 49738 or visit www.crawfordunitedway.org/give and click on Donate.

Be the One to Make a Difference. LIVE UNITED!