PLAINFIELD — The United Way of Hendricks County is still collecting money for important agencies and services in the county.

That’s the message they’re trying to get out to anyone willing to donate just a few dollars to the campaign. Right now, they are about 20 percent short of their goal of collecting $863,000.

“We’re still lacking, despite what we’ve done so far,” Dana Servaes, one of the co-chairs of the 2009 campaign, said.

Susie Friend, area director for the United Way of Hendricks County, said vital services will be cut across the board if the fundraising goals are not met throughout the county and state.

“Our biggest fear is not making goal,” Friend said. “They’ll have to lay people off and cut services, at a time when we need these services so badly.”

There are four main agencies in Hendricks County that are supported by United Way funds: Sheltering Wings Center for Women and Children, Sycamore Services, the Hendricks County Senior Center, and Mental Health America of Hendricks County.

Each of these agencies serves vital areas of the county. Other groups and agencies throughout the county receive support from the United Way as well, including Girls, Inc., BornLearning, Visiting Nurse Service, Inc., Goodwill, and many others.

Bart Beal, co-chair of the 2009 campaign, said, “We’re really pleased we’ve picked up new organizations and the number of people willing to give even in a down economy (is great), but at the same time, we think we’re going to be short of the goal at a time when agencies need it more than ever.”

Servaes added, “And it doesn’t take much to give in a big way. The importance is that we’re all affected by these agencies, either ourselves or we know someone who is using a service.”

Friend knows how much the services in Hendricks County can do for a family. Her sister and brother-in-law were both diagnosed with leukemia and, following her sister’s stroke, were advised to move to Hendricks County.

“They lived just across the line in Marion County and (the nurse) said they would have a better chance at better agencies if they were in Hendricks County,” she said.

They now use the Hendricks County Link service to get around town, someone from the Hendricks County Senior Services helps clean their home, and they get meals from the Meals on Wheels program.

“That’s just one story right there,” Friend said. “And you don’t think of your family having to use the services, but people don’t realize the services are there when they need them.”

Beal said one of the benefits of giving is that the money raised in the county stays in the county.

“We typically receive more than we contribute because of the quality and number of agencies in the county, so it is a great investment,” he said. “Another neat thing is that it’s volunteers that determine what agencies are distributed what amounts of money. Volunteers and donors make the decisions.”

But, Beal pointed out, as the county grows, more money is needed to keep the agencies running.

“We raised more last year than we ever had, but the flip side is that we’re the second fastest growing county, aside from Hamilton County,” he said.

There are several ways to give to the United Way campaign, including volunteering for the different agencies.

“We need an army of volunteers,” Friend said.

Some companies throughout the county have company fundraising events and donations can be automatically deducted from employees’ paychecks.

If a company doesn’t run a campaign, however, donations can be made by visiting the website www.liveunitedgiveunited.org, or by calling Friend at the United Way of Hendricks County office at 745-0310, or by e-mailing to susie.friend@uwci.org.

For more information on the United Way of Hendricks County, visit the website at www.uwci.org.

If anyone needs assistance in Central Indiana, Connect2Help offers free and confidential telephone assistance to help those in need get information about food, housing, healthcare, shelter, support groups, and more. Dial 211 or 926-4357 seven days a week, 24 hours a day.



BREAKOUT BOX:

Online:

www.liveunitedgiveunited.org

www.uwci.org

susie.friend@uwci.org

By phone:

745-0310



charlee.beasor@flyergroup.com