It all begins with folks who care
The United Way movement began more than 50 years ago, when business, clergy and local leaders got together to discuss ways to make a lasting difference in the health of their community. Over time, they found a simple way for ordinary workers to have charitable donations deducted from the paychecks – small amounts that add up to significant impacts.
Today, United Way campaigns drive critical health and social service programs in communities throughout the nation – and Polk County is no exception. If you have the opportunity to donate to the United Way at your place of employment, make sure your gift is designated to the United Way of Polk County. If your employer doesn’t run an employee giving campaign, we can make it easy to set one up – just give us a call.
If you are retired or you don’t have a regular workplace, we invite you to give an individual gift –and it may be matched by one of our foundation matching gift programs.
Call our office for more information. We welcome your involvement as a donor, volunteer, or campaign coordinator.
Send us an email or give us a call and we’ll follow up with all of the information you need to help make a difference in Polk County!
Volunteer!
The holidays are a great time to start volunteering!
It’s a perfect time to institute volunteering as part of a family holiday tradition. Everyone can lend a hand and help the community meet critical needs. Here are some ideas you can pursue on your own – during the holidays or throughout the year.
Holiday Entertainment – Provide holiday entertainment – including reading stories and donating books -- to residents of assisted living homes, group homes, or to people who are not able to leave their own homes due to illness.
Holiday Tea – Make cookies, placemats and serve tea a senior center or for those homebound.
Make Treats for Non-Profit Agencies – Contact your favorite non-profit organization that provides a much needed service and make snacks or a lunchtime meal for the employees.
Holiday or Birthday Wishes – Celebrate your child’s birthday or the holidays and assemble goodie bags, wrap presents and treats for children in shelters.
Answer a Wish List – Ask a nonprofit agency that serves your favorite cause for wish list and purchase or make items that will support the services they provide year-round.
Give an Alternative Gift – Give your family and friends a gift by donating money or supplies to a local organization in honor of a friend or family member and give that person a card describing the organization and the donation made in their name.
Closet Cleaning -- Organize a closet cleaning and donate clothes, furniture and other items to a shelter.
Prepare and/or Deliver a Meal – Prepare or pick-up a prepared meal to deliver to the homebound, or volunteer at a homeless shelter.
Adopt a family – Or a senior in need for gift giving.
Make holiday cards -- Take your cards to a nursing home or hospital.
Adopt a Service Person -- Make holiday cards for personnel overseas or at a Veterans Hospital, or adopt a family who has a loved one overseas. Visit www.ourmilitary.mil for other ways to show support.
Share the Warmth – Locate an organization that needs coats and shoes and start collecting – hats and gloves too!
Donate – Your pennies make difference Make Birthday Boxes – Make birthday boxes for organizations that work with seniors or with children so that they can provide love to these individuals all year long.
Support Utility Payment Assistance – Help families keep the heat and lights on. Your local United Way of Polk County can tell you how.
Make a New Year’s Resolution – Volunteer often in 2010!
