United Way campaign kicks off amid record-level need Agencies requesting 24% increase in funding over current-year support 19 August 2008

Marysville Mayor Chris Schmenk gave the keynote address and endorsement of the United Way campaign to her fellow associates at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company at the kickoff of that company’s campaign in August. “Since taking office as Mayor of Marysville in January, 2008, I have become even more appreciative of what your United Way dollars do for Scotts’ hometown of Marysville and for Union County,” said Schmenk. “Your contributions allow our citizens in need to get basic services, clothing, food and prescription medicines. The need in the community is even more urgent this year, with the troubled economy and cost of living on the rise.” You don’t have to look around the world to find someone in need. Chances are, you only have to look around the corner. Union County is not immune to the news we read and hear daily about the state of the economy. As your United Way kicks off its 50th Annual Campaign in Union County this month, we face the challenging goal of providing for the increased need in our community. Funding requests from our 24 Member Agencies are collectively 24% higher than current-year support. The reasons can be found in record-setting use of area social service agencies which are being stretched to capacity and beyond to serve the masses coming through their doors. The number of Union County residents on the government-funded Food Stamp Program has more than tripled in the last decade, to more than 4,500. That’s roughly 10 percent of the population. Not coincidentally, usage at the Union County Personal Needs Pantry, where volunteers provide items that cannot be purchased with food stamps, is up 25% over four years ago. “Most of the people keep talking about the high gas and food prices,” said Barb Snodgres, Task Force Member of the Union County Personal Needs Pantry. “There are more single people, elderly people, and couples coming to the pantry these days.” United Way volunteers collect needed items during a Pantry Drive on Community Care Day 2008. United Way supports six pantries in Union County, including food pantries in Marysville, Milford Center, Plain City, and Richwood and personal needs pantries in Marysville and Richwood. Snodgres laments the age-old “catch-22” that when need is at its greatest, social service agencies often have to cut back on what they can provide because support doesn’t keep up with demand. She says age-specific items such as baby shampoo and adult diapers that were typically available to dispense are no longer provided because the agency has to focus its resources on the basics for the general population it is serving. Snodgres says the Pantry didn’t add new programming or extras into its funding request. Just enough to try to maintain the services currently provided. “We just asked for a 10 percent increase,” she said. “It may not be enough to meet our true need. But I thought there wouldn’t be a chance of getting any more than that.” But United Way officials are optimistic heading into the campaign, working off a realistic, $840,000 goal mandated by the organization’s Strategic Plan. United Way raised a record $812,000 a year ago. “Everything we’ve done so far this year has seen a greater response than last year,” said Dave Bezusko, Campaign & PR Director. “Whether it was volunteers coming out for Community Care Day, donations to our School Supply and Pantry Drives, sponsorships, and participants for our special events. This community steps up to take care of its own.” Please give generously during the United Way campaign at your workplace this year. You may also give online at www.unitedwayofunioncounty.org, by calling our office at (937) 644-8381, or mailing to United Way, PO Box 145, Marysville, Ohio, 43040.