A new year equals a new United Way season for the area.
The United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County (UWECC) has had a busy, but productive, experience so far for their 2016-17 campaign since announcing their year’s kickoff last month.
“Everyone has been going well so far,” UWECC Community Impact Coordinator Josh McKinney said. “Each of our normal businesses have reported more donations compared to previous years. We’re still waiting for one of our partners to report their amount but were around halfway to our goal for the year at $60,000.”
UWECC told attendees during their kickoff event that this year’s goal was at $125,000 to help the community. The organization uses the funds received for their partnering agencies, including Adult Day Services, American Red Cross, Assistance Resources Ministries (ARM), the Boys and Girls Club of Elizabethton/Carter County, Carter County Neighborhood Service Center, Contact Ministries, Personal Support Services, the Elizabethton Senior Citizens Center and the local Boys Scouts organization.
For a new year of fundraising, the UWECC is continually working with local businesses to help create new initiatives to raise funds for their different organizations.
“One of our events still going on is “Spread Sugar Love” with Sugar Love Bakery & Care at the Bonnie Kate,” McKinney said. “It happens every Saturday in October from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and they’re asking customers to get their change together or give another type of donation and all the money raised will go to support ARM.”
During the month, customers that eat at Sugar Love Bakery & Cafe are encouraged to utilize social media by posting #SpreadSugarLove and #LiveUnited to help raise awareness for this year.
Another event coming around the bend is the celebrity bagger event at local Food City stores, including Bluff City and Elizabethton, McKinney added. The event lasts from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and funds raised during the event will be used to benefit the United Way’s mission. McKinney added the event includes a one hour shift and anyone in the community involved with a business or organization is invited to participate.
“It’s been so great right now,” McKinney said. “Working together with our past partners, I can’t say enough about how supportive they’ve been and their help they’ve given this year. Our campaign chair, Corey Paulson, has been great this year working with the community and making sure this year’s campaign is a success.”
While there is early success, there’s still work to do, McKinney added.
“There’s still work to do,” he said. “Our goal now is to push past that halfway mark with the different events lined up. I’m always looking to speak with people that want more information or want to contribute. There are so many different organizations in the community and there are so many things that people in the community can do to help.
Individuals looking for more information on UWECC can call the local office at (423) 543-6975 either email McKinney at director@uwayecc.org or Paulson at PalusonCR@msha.com.