With less than 40 days before the annual County United Way campaign wraps up in Garrett County, $73,646 has been raised towards the county’s $80,000 campaign goal.
“The needs of our neighbors define the size of our goal,” said United Way of Garrett County Advisory Committee Chair Larry Tichnell. “The closer we get to answering basic human needs in our county, the more urgently we need to work.”
Keith Sanders, Chair of the County United Way Board of Directors, noted in his campaign status report that funding requests from nonprofit organizations in Garrett County, plus the additional needs that always appear in the form of impact grant and Live United grant applications that help stabilize families in financial crisis, make the case that CUW’s campaign goal must be met.
Funds raised from last year’s campaign are being distributed to impact partners and Live United grant recipients. They also provide some funding for Meals On Wheels After School programs, help offset the cost of medications for cancer patients, provide elementary schools with “rewards” for the students in school stores, purchase hygiene items for the start of a personal care closet in a high school and provide informational materials in bags for National Drug Overdose Awareness Day.
“Last year was an amazing year for our local United Way in all four counties in our service area,” CUW Director Michele Walker commented.
“We took huge strides, both in involvement from supporters and directly creating community solutions – but the work of funding local needs never relaxes, especially in times of inflation when needs can spiral beyond the control of individuals, families and the nonprofits who help them.”
To contribute to the 2024 CUW Annual Campaign, supporters can visit https://cuw.org/donate and make an online gift to any county campaign, mail a check to PO Box 394 Oakland, MD 21550, or call CUW at 301-722-2700 to make a telephone credit card donation.
