Corsicana — The month of February is symbolized by the heart and what better Valentine to our community than for each us to give from our hearts. United Way of Navarro County is announcing a new 2010 special initiative to “Unite Hearts in Navarro County” with a challenge to its citizens.

To commemorate the start of this new decade, UWNC is launching a special giving initiative with a goal for 2010 people to give $25 or more between now and Feb. 14. 

How can your $25 gift to United Way help? It could purchase 178 pounds of food; $100 could buy 714 pounds.

$25 could provide a hot meal to a disabled or homebound person for 10 days; $100 could provide hot meals to four people for 10 days or to one person for 40 days. 

$25 could purchase five books for a Pre-K child, developing early reading interest and skills; $100 could purchase 20 books.

$25 could provide a child with a week of after-school day care; $100 could provide four children with a week of after-school day care or one child with four weeks of care.

$25 could fulfill six prescriptions; $100 could cover the expense of 24 pharmaceutical needs.

$25 could cover one-month’s gas utility; $100 could cover this expense for four families or could cover several water bills.

$25 could provide a full school-year of mentoring and tutoring for an area youth; $100 could provide a school-year’s worth of mentoring and tutoring for four students.

$45 will allow a child to learn skills, sportsmanship and teamwork by participating in Youth sports.

$50 could provide one day’s food and shelter for a disaster victim.

$125 could provide travel, meals and shelter for one day for a disaster relief worker.

$1,000 could feed and shelter a family of four for five nights.

In addition to our funding partnerships for programs through local service agencies, United Way of Navarro County has continued to focus on solutions to the needs identified through the Navarro County Community Assessment. This assessment was a joint collaboration between United Way of Navarro County and Community Services Center (a nonprofit arm of the School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington). We currently have eight focus groups that continually meet to monitor and address various areas of concern that were highlighted in the assessment. These focus groups are part of the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) process that was recommended. 

The Housing Committee is actively pursuing housing solutions for individuals and families that earn low to middle-income. The Health Care Task Force continues to explore options to provide assistance with medical, vision and dental care. In November, alone, 150 students were screened by the “All Smiles Dental Van” that visits Navarro Mall one Saturday of each month; 125 of those screened required treatment, 75 of which have already been resolved. In addition, more physicians are being recruited to the area and work has been undertaken to address identified vision concerns.

The committee representing Children and Youth has branched out and is coordinating their efforts with the Justice Center to assist teens and preteens, as well as address the core problems in the family that lead to truancy issues. The Education Committee is working in conjunction with the school districts, AVID, VOICE, and STAR to ensure successful high school completion, college preparation and a career path to the future.

New members with valuable knowledge and expertise have recently joined the Mental Health & Substance Abuse Committee and we are hoping to make new strides towards this concern. The Social Services group has initiated three skill-building workshops to advance the performance and education of agency workers and other social service providers; this addresses the request for knowledge enhancement and more formal and frequent networking between providers. A fourth session is currently in the works. This same group is also aggressively working with 2-1-1 to ensure information concerning all services in Navarro County is available to all residents and service-users.

Transportation was another concern; Community Transit Services has recently procured an additional six vans and there are now twenty-five vehicles available to provide public transportation.

Additionally, our partner agencies have expressed a desire to have a centralized database through which they can share information. We are currently exploring the logistics, cost and feasibility of establishing such a network and a pilot program is currently on trial through one agency. Other communities employing ABCD have continued to report many economic and social benefits. We are making progress but there is still much we can accomplish.

This is your community and your United Way. If you have not yet donated or pledged to this year’s United Way campaign, please take a few moments to carefully consider becoming involved. No donation or pledge is too small or insignificant. This is truly a TEAM effort — Together Everyone Accomplishes More.

For this year’s corporate donors, trust funds, and many payroll deduction and individual contributions, we are indeed grateful. Many of our local agencies are seeing an increase in the demand for their services with many first-time service users.  United Way of Navarro County wants to make sure those needs are met. The citizens of our area have traditionally rallied together to assist those in need; we choose to LIVE UNITED.

Please take a moment to look into your hearts and see that your contribution might help a relative, co-worker, neighbor or friend. Your contribution, large or small, really does make a difference in the lives of others and their needs have never been greater. An annual lump-sum contribution of $25 is the equivalent of less than 50 cents a week.  

Thank you in advance for your donation or pledge. Pledge cards can be downloaded from the UWNC Web site at www.unitedwayofnavarrocounty.com; contributions can be sent to UWNC at P.O. Box 567, Corsicana, TX  75151-0567.

—————

Ellen Block is Executive Director of United Way of Navarro County. 

E-mail Ellen Block: ellenb@unitedwayofnavarrocounty.com

"Soundoff" on this story: soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com