United Way asking local residents for assistance

By Angie Thompson, Senior Reporter

TIFTON — Troubled economic times bring increased needs for individuals and families; at the same time, non-profit organizations who serve them are having difficulties raising money to keep the help coming.

“The times when the needs are the greatest are the times we have the least amount of resources,” said Tom Call, president of the United Way of South Central Georgia’s board of directors. “We depend on the public.”

That public support has been reduced with the recent closing of several industries and other businesses in the area. Many people who have been laid off from their jobs were regular contributors to the United Way through payroll deductions, and the companies they worked for were major corporate sponsors.

“That has affected our bottom line quite a bit,” Call said.

The United Way serves 17 non-profit agencies including Literacy Volunteers of America; the Betty Jo Roach Community Center; Meals on Wheels; the Needy Children’s Fund; Special Olympics: the Tift County Child Abuse Council; Kid’s Advocacy Coalition; the American Red Cross; Big Brothers Big Sisters; Boy Scouts of America; Child Care Resource and Referral; Christian Kitchen; Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia; Helpline; and the Tifton Soup Kitchen.

The United Way has also funded the Carousel House, a facility that provides respite care for the Alzheimer’s patients so that those who care for them can have some time to themselves. The organization is still on the list, but recently closed. The organization has not given up their non-profit status in the hope that someone else will come along to find interested clients and the facility can re-open.

The United Way’s board of directors just completed thorough reviews of the agencies it funds, said Carol Johnson, director of the agency.

“It took some deep soul searching on the part of my board because there is just no money,” Johnson said. “The board spent days working on it.”

Call said board members “did a thorough review of all of the agencies” United Way funds and “made some changes and some tough decisions.”

The agencies will be notified soon of the status of their United Way funding.

Call said it is important for people to know that the money they give to United Way stays in the community.

“We give to these agencies and they have their own boards who are local people,” Call said. “We can’t ask someone to give us money and not be accountable. United Way for years has been a grassroots organization.”

United Way’s fundraising season begins in September and Stacey Beckham, the organization’s vice president and 2009 campaign chairman, said she has some new fundraising ideas. The organization’s largest fundraiser, Children’s Dinner Theatre, will continue, but Beckham is also planning other events, such as a charity poker tournament and at least a third fundraising event.

Beckham said that raising money is not her favorite thing to do, but like others involved, she has seen how much of a difference the agencies funded by United Way can make in the community and it makes the job worthwhile.

“United Way exists to take care of people in our area right now,” Beckham said. “We have more kids and elderly adult shut-ins that need meals and more people needing to get their GED than ever. I have gone and seen what these people do and it really pulls at my heart.”

Wednesday at Tifton’s Soup Kitchen in Neighborhood Service Center on South Central Avenue, men, women and children were served a lunch of soup, salad, peaches and iced tea. Director Betty Willis said the kitchen now serves an average of 177 meals each day. Beckham said that 39,600 meals were served in the kitchen last year and that 581 people were served last year through Literacy Volunteers of America in their quest to earn their GEDs.

“That’s 581 families that will be changed,” Beckham said.

Beckham said Santa’s Helpers served 2,090 children last year who would not have had a Christmas otherwise.

“We aren’t trying to raise money for some random, empty bank account,” Beckham said. “Every $100 makes a huge difference.”

To contact the United Way of South Central Georgia, call 382-2881.

To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.

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