As the United Way-KVOE Live Morning Drive Radio Auction comes to an end Friday, the United Way of the Flint Hills says it has earmarked almost $216,000 in direct grants to its eight-county coverage area.
Executive Director Daphne Mertens says this will fund the work of the United Way’s over 20 community partners in Lyon, Chase, Coffey, Greenwood, Morris, Osage, Wabaunsee and Woodson counties.
This year’s list of United Way Community Partners:
*Bloom House
*Building Blocks Community Day Care Center
*Camp Alexander
*CASA of the 8th Judicial District
*Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation
*Corner House
*Crosswinds Counseling & Wellness
*East Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging
*Emporia Child Care Center
*Food for Students
*Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland
*Help House of Osage County
*Housing & Credit Counseling, Inc.
*Jayhawk Council Boy Scouts
*Kansas Children’s Service League
*Kansas Legal Services
*LEAP!
*Little Huskies Childcare
*Sacred Heart Child Care Center
*SOS, Inc.
*Southwick House
*SparkWheel
*The Salvation Army
Mertens says other funds will benefit Emerging Needs grants, or mini-grants that help non-profits respond to community needs, as well as the United for Racial Equity grant program strengthening equity programs and projects. She says the amount will not reflect the final campaign total, in part because people are increasingly donating directly to the United Way’s community partners instead of making their donations to the annual fundraising campaign.
Mertens says donations to the United Way also help with its efforts to help area homeless residents, as well as provide disaster relief, bolster literacy and continue the work of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, 2-1-1 essential services phone number and MyFreeTaxes.com.
