Stillwater, OKLA. - As Stillwater braces for another week of below normal temperatures, another local thermometer is also registering “low.” According to United Way campaign chairs Richard and Marti Dermer, the campaign thermometers are stuck at just 80% of this year’s goal. To date, the campaign has logged $675,795 towards the $740,000 needed to fund Stillwater’s safety net in 2006.
“We need to hear from folks who have not yet donated, so we can move the thermometers up this week,” say the Dermers. “It’s not too late to give a gift that will make a real difference and impact your income tax bill.”
Volunteers are making calls this week to get results of workplace campaigns completed but not yet reported.
“It certainly gets more difficult to gather information and make a final push when we’re this close to school, university and business Christmas closings,” says United Way Director Shelley Ricker.
“This has been an unusual year with the continuing media coverage of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation and national pleas for donations by the Red Cross, Salvation Army and other charities,” she adds.
The Katrina Effect
Ricker says the “Katrina effect” has put a damper on campaigns around the country but she’s surprised it appears to be impacting Stillwater’s drive.
“The year of 9/11, we had one of our most successful local campaigns,” she reports. “I have a great deal of faith in Stillwater’s understanding of the need for and value of the local services provided by our United Way… 99 % of the money raised here stays here.”
This year, in addition to the Dermers, the campaign cabinet includes Natalea Watkins, Assistant Coordinator, Kenny Josey, Loaned Executives: Amjad Ayoubi and Bob Dixon, OSU; Chris Petermann, Perkins; Bud Lacy, Residential; Steve Irby and Karen Flack, Hi-Tech; Steve Norman, Professionals; Regina Hall, Child Care Providers and Shyla Eggers, Special Events.
The Stillwater Challenge
And together they have this message for the Stillwater community:
Would you give $10….
In January – if you could help a troubled teenager get a mentor and the tools to become a productive citizen thanks to the Payne County Youth Shelter?
In February – if you could help a senior citizen, going without needed medicine in order to buy food, get help at the Stillwater Community Health Center?
In March – if a young mother on your street wanted to improve her reading skills so she could read to her children and the Literacy Guild could make it happen?
In April – if a family of four was suddenly homeless and needed a place to regroup like the Mission of Hope?
In May – if you knew the volunteer leader of a local Boy Scout troop needed to attend training?
In June – if a victim of abuse and her child needed a safe place to stay for a while and Stillwater Domestic Violence could shelter them?
Would you give $10….
In July – if you could help the breadwinner of a family beat drugs without the income loss of jail time and the Payne County Drug Court could do that?
In August – if you could provide comfort and assistance to the family of a terminal patient through Hospice?
In September – if you could get an abused child out of the social service system and into a loving home months faster thanks to CASA?
In October – if you knew a family was thinking of leaving three children home alone because of the cost of daycare and the YMCA could help? In November – if you had a chance to give a developmentally challenged adult a “real job” and a sense of self worth through the Sheltered Workshop? In December – if you could save a life thanks to the daily contact of a Meals on Wheels volunteer?
Not too Late
It’s not too late, but 600 people will need to answer the twelve month challenge in order for the campaign to be successfully completed. Contributions may be made by mail to P. O. Box 308, Stillwater, 74076. Another way to contribute is on the secure website at www.stillwaterunitedway.org. Or you can take your gift to the United Way Office at 109 E. 9th. In the past 52 years, the local United Way has funded more than $13-million worth of services to people you know. Please take a moment from your holiday plans to contribute to this important local support system.
