Future of our Kids

I was at Electrolux Home Appliances last week connecting with Sandy VanTassell about their United Way campaign.  Out of the blue, one of her co-workers said “Have you seen the books they mail out through Imagination Library?” She went on to explain how her 2 year-old granddaughter just received one of the “Llama” books in the mail and she loved it . . . the pictures, the message . . .

This is the kind of excitement we love to hear about reading and these books.

United Way provides the Imagination Library book program as part of our Success By 6 initiative.  Children from birth up to their 5th birthday can be enrolled, at no cost to the family.  Their parent or legal guardian and the child must reside in the United Way of Central Minnesota service area.  Books are mailed to the child at their home every month.  They are age appropriate, quality books.  This is a partnership we have with the Dollywood Foundation.  Dolly Parton’s father never learned to read.  She started this program and it has grown to locations throughout the country.

Parents can enroll their children by clicking here!

One more thought . . . Consider making a donation to United Way of Central Minnesota to help cover the cost of this program.  More than 9,300 local children are enrolled and receive books every month.  You could donate in honor of a special person in your life … maybe someone who read to you as a child.  This program is about all our children and their future.

Blogging???

This is something new for me.  I am Betty Schnettler, Director of Partnerships & Services, United Way of Central Minnesota.

I am going to tell stories about services, initiatives and the people we meet every day through United Way who are an inspiration.

Last year I volunteered with the Catholic Charities Share the Spirit program that provided gifts and basics to very low income families.   An adult in the family picks up the items they had written on their wish list for their family..  I talked with one of the women for quite a long time while she waited for her ride.  She was using a walker and you could tell this had been a pretty exhausting day.  She had severe arthritis and struggled with every step. She told me she moved here from another state so her two grandchildren could live with her and have a stable home while their mom (her daughter) was in chemical dependency treatment.  She spoke about the Boys & Girls Club and what a difference that made in her grandchildren’s lives – help with homework, a positive place to be, and good friends.   When her ride showed up, I helped her bring the wrapped gifts to the vehicle.  She said thank you over and over and over again. 

When you give to United Way, you help support both of these services to do their work year-round reaching thousands of local families.

Every Christmas season, our United Way convenes the agencies who provide special holiday services so they can share their plans, reach the people who need help the most and avoid any duplication of effort.  We conduct outreach to get the word out to the community on ways they can help.

On our United Way website (www.unitedwayhelps.org) we have the Holiday Needs poster that lists key agencies in the St. Cloud area who are accepting basic donated items for children and adults:  boots and coats for children, diapers, personal care items, new toys, towels, women’s socks, the list goes on . . . There is nothing fancy or extravagant on that list.

Make a donation if you can – you may not hear the thank you directly from the child or adult you help but you will be in someone’s thank you prayers that night.