The atmosphere was festive and laid-back for the United Way of the Flint Hills’ annual Campaign Kickoff at Good Way Gardens on Thursday.
United Way officials, including Executive Director Whitney Johnson, say they are ready to go for the fundraising and the community engagement over the next 9 months.
Johnson says changes in donation habits and the local employment picture have forced the United Way to change its longstanding operations model of highlighting 15 Community Partners.
Drive Chair Aaron Larson says it’s been an eye-opener for him to learn more about the United Way’s expansion into direct services like emergency food relief, small-cost auto repairs and government-issued ID access.
Larson says the fundraising and engagement roles are already pretty well defined for the United Way team.
New to the United Way team this year is Community Impact Manager Kayla Hoover.
Community Food and Housing Coordinator Jessica Reth says the campaign serves people now — but it also sets the stage for additional services later.
Lyon County Healthy Pathways Coordinator Deon Morrow says fundraising is important. So is the awareness generated by the campaign.
This year’s goal is $500,000. While the United Way is branching out more into direct services, it still supports its Community Partners in a variety of ways. It also runs local operations for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and the Hopkins Employee Relief Fund, which has been giving up to $750 per household for people directly affected when Hopkins Manufacturing closed earlier this year. It also funds Emerging Needs grants for health and human services needs and it offers United for Racial Equity mini-grants to promote both civic action and community engagement for education, health and economic benefit projects.
Besides workplace campaigns, residents can help fundraising by participating in the United in Purpose KVOE Live Morning Drive Auction coming next March.
United Way of the Flint Hills Community Partners
*Bloom House Youth Services
*Building Blocks Community Child Care Center
*Camp Alexander
*CASA of the 8th Judicial District
*Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation
*CrossWinds Counseling & Wellness
*East Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging
*Emporia Child Care
*Food for Students
*Kansas Children’s Service League
*Kansas Legal Services
*SOS Inc
*Southwick House
*The Salvation Army
