United Way sets campaign goal for 2014

[August 23, 2013]  The United Way of Logan County has set a goal of $130,000 for its upcoming campaign, Sept. 14 to Nov. 16, to cover requests for funding during the 2014 fiscal year.

In the recent application process, 17 programs from 15 agencies submitted applications for United Way funding. Funds will be distributed quarterly beginning January 2014. The board voted to guarantee 75 percent of the requested amounts, with the balance hinging on the level of ongoing corporate and community support and pledges received during the campaign.

Two new programs were added to the list of agencies and programs that receive partial funding from United Way of Logan County. Salvation Army and Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois' Family Assistance Program joined the ranks of United Way-supported organizations that provide services or create opportunities for residents of Logan County.

The Salvation Army, with Tony Shuff as executive director, administers Ameren's Warm Neighbors, Cool Friends program, funded by customer donations collected by Ameren and funneled through community organizations that screen and approve requests. Salvation Army also provides matching funds for past-due rent and water bills and has a small emergency food pantry. The office is at the Keest Center, 307 N. Kickapoo in Lincoln. A transitional housing unit is also on-site, limited to women and women with children. Temporary shelter includes financial counseling and goal-oriented activity for self-sufficiency.

Community Action's Family Assistance requested funding to construct raised gardens on the agency's central office property, 1800 Fifth St. in Lincoln, to provide fresh vegetables for Senior Nutrition, Head Start and the in-house food pantry. A secondary purpose is to give senior citizens and other clients a place to grow vegetables and tend a garden, plus create a way for Head Start students to learn where food comes from and how it is prepared. Organic waste from the agency kitchen will be used as compost to fertilize the gardens. The long-term goal is to raise enough vegetables for the agency's programs and food pantry, and to sell excess for funds to expand and maintain the gardens.

Other agencies partially funded by the United Way and partnering to build stronger communities in Logan County: Christian Child Care; Boy Scouts of America, W.D. Boyce Council; Girl Scouts of Central Illinois; Center for Youth and Family Solutions; Lincoln Pastoral Counseling Services; Sparc/Epilepsy Resource Center; American Red Cross; Logan-Mason Rehabilitation Center; Lincoln Area YMCA; United Cerebral Palsy Land of Lincoln; Logan Mason Public Transportation; Community Action Senior Nutrition; Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center; Teaching Others Using Chemicals Hurts, known as TOUCH; and Oasis, Senior Citizens of Logan County.

[Text from file received from United Way of Logan County]