Column: United Way donations help people in need

Published 12:00 am Sunday, August 19, 2007

Karol Held, Touch a Life

In past columns, you&8217;ve learned how the United Way sets its goal each year and about the five essential needs it serves.

The last column concentrated on the way we serve youth and children.

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This week, I want to address the way we assist people in crisis.

Imagine you have a family member whose child is on life support in Rochester and you don&8217;t have money for gas or food while you are there. The Salvation Army would help!

Imagine you are traveling through Albert Lea and your wallet is stolen. You cannot get money for gas, you have no way to pay for a hotel, and you have no way to get the emergency help you need. The Salvation Army could help!

The Salvation Army also helps in providing services to people in need. They help with childcare, budgeting and counseling. They help set up a household with items from their store for people who need that assistance.

They provide school supplies for kids that can&8217;t afford them. They are a place to turn when you really need the help.

Imagine you are a single mom and lost your job. You and your children cannot pay the rent and have no place to live. You have a possibility of a job but no time to access your situation and get your affairs in order. Did you know that South Eastern Minnesota Citizens Action Council (Semcac) has four fully furnished apartments where they allow just such a family to live for up to 90 days while on the way to becoming independent.

They can also provide counseling on finances, helping to make a realistic plan to become self sufficient and productive.

Their mission statement reads, &8220;Semcac assists people to achieve or maintain independence and self-reliance through their own and community resources.&8221;

Imagine your family has a fire and your house burns to the ground. You lose your clothes, your car, and all your possessions. Before you can wonder what to do, the Red Cross is there with hotel, food and clothing vouchers and a promise to help you through this crisis. It will be there to put a quilt and an arm around your shoulders. The Red Cross is prepared for disaster and sends trained volunteers in case of such need. In cases of larger proportion, it has shelters in most of the communities in our county. They own cots and quilts to help deal with this crisis.

The Red Cross also trains people in the areas of babysitting, first aid, CPR, life guarding and water safety.

These are examples of people in crisis. These agencies are there to help. While their purposes are similar, their areas of service are different.

I was impressed with the way they work together providing services.

They work as one team, referring clients from their own agency to a sister agency that can better provide for them.

Our United Way dollars help these agencies to provide the services that help people in need build the strength to help themselves. Stronger people create a better community for each of us to live and work in and raise our children. Your generous giving helps these agencies to &8220;Touch A Life.&8221;

Karol Held is 2007 campaign co-chairwoman for the United Way of Freeborn County.