Pressed by increasing demands for help from the victims of several disasters that hit the region, the United Way of Freeborn County aims to boost its annual fund-raising drive with a handmade theatre performance.

Friday, September 07, 2001

Pressed by increasing demands for help from the victims of several disasters that hit the region, the United Way of Freeborn County aims to boost its annual fund-raising drive with a handmade theatre performance.

Scheduled at 7 a.m., noon and 5 p.m. on Tuesday, the skit will be played by Nancy Hockenberry and Paul Cooper, local comedy actors. Five United Way volunteers including Hockenberry wrote the script.

&uot;It is going to be entertaining, educative and funny,&uot; Jean Eaton, executive director, said. The audience will receive the United Way’s &uot;pledge packages&uot; that include T-shirts and books so that the audience can use them for charity incentive.

The play is one effort to draw more public attention to the organization’s activity.

Each year between September and December, the United Way collects donations from corporations, organizations, and individuals. Then, it allocates the funds to 16 different non-profit agencies such as the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, and Family Support Network that serve Freeborn County residents.

The goal of this year’s drive is $500,000, increased by $15,000 from last year. But Eaton emphasized that she needs to expect more than that, &uot;since it was planned before the Farmland fire and the Glenville tornado happened.&uot;

The United Way established an $80,000 emergency fund after the area tragedies in July to match immediate needs of local non-profit groups.

Eaton hopes that the annual campaign fund will effectively help relieve the victims. &uot;Times and things are bad,&uot; she said. &uot;We need people to be generous and to think about others and think how the United Way helps everybody in our community.&uot;

The free performances on Tuesday will be held at Albert Lea Community Theatre, 147 North Broadway.