Monthly Archives: October 2015

Raise Money For United Way By Browsing The Internet

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onlineshopping

With the Holiday Season fast approaching, there is a good chance that you will be doing a lot of online searching during the next few months… Well, we have some great news for you!    You can raise money for United Way by simply searching for and buying items online!

By using GoodSearch.com instead of search engines like Google, Bing and Ask.com, United Way of Franklin County will generate revenue and be able to help more people!   Please follow the directions below and take a minute to watch the informational video on how to get started:  http://www.goodsearch.com/getstarted.aspx?viewType=RV

It is important to note that you must select “United Way of Franklin County Association” (try this direct link: https://www.goodsearch.com/nonprofit/united-way-franklin-county-association.aspx) before you begin to use this search engine.  You only have to select it one time and then your computer will automatically save your selection (if you switch computers please remember to select us again before searching on GoodSearch).  After you have selected us, a portion of GoodSearch’s ad revenue will be donated to us from every GoodSearch search you make!!  Cool right?  Thank you for investing in our community in every way possible!

Don’t forget to tell all of your friends about this amazing way to help a great cause!

Marty McFly and Doc Brown Would Be Proud of Us!

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In Honor of “Back to the Future Day” United Way of Franklin County would like to remember how far United Way has come over the years!

backtothefuture

United Way was first Established 125 years ago, when Frances Wisebart Jacobs had a vision to start what would become the first United Way. Her group of church and community leaders coordinated services and fundraising for 22 agencies in Denver, Colorado during their first year!

In the picture below is an United Way Campaign Kick Off Event from October 1985! Did you know that United Way of Franklin County just had its 2016 Campaign Kickoff at the beginning of October?    In the picture, each United Way member is holding a pumpkin with the amount of money they were hoping to raise for that year.

1985_United_Way_Campaign_Under_Way (1)

Today, United Way of Franklin County has 17 Member Agencies

with Campaign goal of $170,000 for the 2016 year!

….Now THAT is something the Doc and Marty would be proud of if they came to the “future” today!

Please help us reach our goal by donating today:  click here to go to our PayPal donation website!

Would You Like To Volunteer?

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UWFCA is always looking for volunteers to support our Member Agencies.  

Here are some examples of volunteer opportunities available:

volunteer

  • American Red Cross – Donate Blood, Disaster Action Team Member, Disaster Health Services Volunteer, Disaster Work Force Respondent, Building Maintenance
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters –  Inspire young people to succeed by mentoring through a one-one-one match during the school day.
  • CASA –  Advocate to assist in a child’s court proceedings.
  • Communities In Schools – Tutoring: Help children and/or youth with homework or a specific school subject. Skilled volunteering:Bring your skills to the table to help Communities In Schools be successful. Program volunteering:Say “yes” to helping with one-time programs. Other mentoring opportunities:mentor children and/or youth through programs such as Boys Club or Girls Club.
  • ECKAN – The ECKAN Ottawa Volunteer Center inspires, equips, and mobilizes people to take action and change their community for the better.
  • Habitat For Humanity – Making a lunch for our workers on the construction site, help organize or staff a fund raising event,  take pictures at our events and work days , serve on a committee, help us find our next partner family, write something for our newsletter, be part of the construction committee, help us locate and coordinate our volunteers for the work days, help the office (filing, returning phone calls, making copies, paying bills, etc.)
  • Hope House -Hope house is constantly in need of volunteers to assist in a variety of different activities.
  • LifeCare Center – Help is needed in countless ways. Some serve directly with women and men who come to our center for help; many more serve behind the scenes. All make a difference for our clients’ ability to choose life for their unborn child.
  • Mid-American Nutrition Program (Meals On Wheels) – Meal delivery drivers are always needed, you can also help in the office with tasks such as folding flyers, packing envelopes, or cutting other media products or promotions to be sent or displayed.
  • Midland Care Hospice – As a volunteer at Midland Care, you will have many opportunities to listen, run an errand, make a bouquet, give a speech, bake cookies, tell a story, help a child, dry a tear, provide vigil care, be a companion, work in an office, play the piano, create memories and be a part of a team.
  • Willow Domestic Violence Center – Non-direct service volunteers: help with special events, office assistance, community education, and marketing, need 6 hours of training. Direct service volunteers:  includes shelter advocates, court advocates, and children’s program advocates,

Did you know? – Showcasing member agencies and the amazing work they do!

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Did you know that United Way of Franklin County Association has 17 member agencies under it’s umbrella?  

Each member agency plays a vital role in strengthening the lives of Franklin County Residents.  Watch our videos about each organization and see how your donation is used to help in Franklin County.

Not all of our member agencies are listed in the video. Please take a moment to read about our agencies and the wonderful services they provide:

  • AMERICAN RED CROSS:  The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of natural disasters and fires,  and teaches lifesaving skills like CPR to Franklin County Residents. Note: They served 94 Franklin County residents in 2014.
  • BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS: Provides one-to-one mentors to children and youth referred into the program for numerous reasons and challenges. Note: They served 102 Anderson/Franklin County youth in 2014.
  • CASA:  Court Appointed Special Advocates work within the District Court to help the judge determine facts in cases involving children, serving as an advocate for the child in court, and becoming a “watchdog” for the child after a court case. Note: They served 60 Franklin County youth in 2014.
  • CHILDREN’S MERCY:  This hospital in Johnson County and Kansas City is the region’s only pediatric medical center. In Franklin County alone, uncompensated medical aid to children exceeds $1 million annually. Note: They served 3,024 Franklin County residents in 2014.
  • COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS: Provides after school care and in-school site coordinators to USD 290 youth. Note: They served 2,503 Franklin County youth in 2014.
  • ECKAN: Provides food backpacks to food insecure youth who would not have food over the weekend and to those attending the ORC Summer Camp Program. Note: They served 300 Franklin County youth in 2014.
  • ELIZEBETH LAYTON CENTER:  Provides a 24 hour suicide hotline for Franklin County Residents as well as crises mental health training for officials like police, fire fighters and medical officials. Note: They served 299 Franklin County residents in 2014.
  • HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: Affordable housing, home weatherization and exterior home repairs to those in need. Note: They served 60 Franklin County residents in 2014.
  • HOPE HOUSE:  Hope House welcomes people in need with food, clothing and emergency financial assistance. The organization also offers budgeting assistance, nutrition, education & fellowship activities. Note: They provided 3,386 services to Franklin County families in 2014.
  • LIFECARE CENTER FOR WOMEN:  LifeCare offers new mothers help with counseling, goal planning, parenting classes, adoption information, and classes on childbirth and prenatal development. Abstinence education is stressed. Note: They served 2,110 Franklin County residents in 2014.
  • MID-AMERICA NUTRITION PROGRAM (MEALS ON WHEELS): Mid-America Nutrition Program (Meals on Wheels) provides hot meals and additional food to elderly citizens who wish to remain in their homes. Note: They served 45,036 meals to Franklin County residents in 2014.
  • MIDLAND CARE HOSPICE:  Committed to providing physical, spiritual and emotional care to terminally ill patients and families, Midland Hospice Care includes an Ottawa-based team of nurses, social workers, chaplains, home health aides, volunteers and bereavement for families and children. Note: They served 1051 Franklin County residents in 2014.
  • TINY-K EARLY INTERVENTION:  The Ottawa/Wellsville Infant/Toddler program serves families with children up to age 3 who have special developmental needs. Assistance is provided in a family-oriented setting. Note: They served 69 Franklin County Residents in 2014.
  • OTTAWA COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL’S OTTAWA YOUTH ARTIST ALLIANCE PROGRAM: This free after-school art program provides a safe space for kids to enjoy structured art programming.  The program is currently available one night a week and is open to 4th graders through high school students.  Note: They served 60 Franklin County youth in 2014.
  • OTTAWA RECREATION FOUNDATION’S SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM:  A summer after-school program available to all area youth between the ages of 5 and 12, the summer camp provides daily mentors and structured programming to youth from June-July and is administered by the Ottawa Recreation Commission. The summer camp program is offered in partnership with the ECKAN Lunch Bunch program. Note: They served 367 Franklin County youth in 2014.
  • UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY:  Serving Kansans in Franklin County and throughout the state, United Cerebral Palsy of Kansas provides services for disabled persons ranging from special equipment to special housing opportunities, all designed to improve their quality of life. Note: They served 12 Franklin County residents in 2014.
  • WILLOW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CENTER:  Formerly known as Women’s Transitional Care Services, the Willow provides services to men, women and their children who are fleeing domestic violence. Counseling, safe shelter and a 24-hour crisis line are available. Note: They served 52 Franklin County adult residents in 2014.

Please donate now and help us support these Amazing organizations!

Our 2016 Online Campaign Has Begun!

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Join our Online Campaign by tuning in to our social networking websites during the month of October!

Like, share, comment, and tag photos: Show your friends and colleagues all of the wonderful things that United Way of Franklin County and our member agencies are up to!

Donate now by clicking the “donate” button on our website or by clicking here.

Important Links:
Website: https://unitedwayoffranklinco.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/United-Way-of-Franklin-County-KS/362387913775614
Twitter: @MegPearson2
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/united-way-of-franklin-county-association/103/857/630

Thank you for your continued support of Franklin County! Together, we are improving the lives of Franklin County residents and growing a stronger community!