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Beer & Wine Tasting a Success! |
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 United Way's Beer and Wine Tasting Gala once again, was a huge success. Over 60 fabulous wines and specialty beers from around the world were available for tasting. Local businesses served light hors d'oeuvres while Rainbow Strings provided music.
A special thanks goes out to Michelob and H. Boyd Nelson the presenting sponsor and to Arrowwood Resort, Beverage Wholesalers, Carlos Creek Winery, Elden's Food Fair, Pete's County Market, Phillips, Quality Wine and Spirits, Rainbow Strings, Rudy's Redeye Grill, Salud America Wines, Viking Coca-Cola, Willy's Roadside Café and World Class Wines.
This year's event was enjoyed by more than 320 people. click here for more photos |
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Seeking Volunteers for Allocation Process |
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One of the most important things that United Way does is to determine agency funding through the allocations process. Douglas and Pope County residents are invited to be a part of the allocation funding process. Last year, United Way moved from a one year funding cycle to a two year funding cycle for programs addressing Education, Income, and Health. Applications approved for funding received a commitment from United Way of funding for two years. The first year volunteers met agency representative(s), heard agency presentation(s), and asked questions. After discussion each panel the made a recommendation whether United Way should fund a program. This year, volunteers will have the opportunity to do site visits, offering volunteers greater insight to the services local agencies provide. Panels will also reconfirm the United Way's commitment and consider any adjustments for increase or decrease in needs. We are currently looking for volunteers to take part in April's allocations process. Panelists serving last year will be invited to serve on the same panel. New volunteers/ panelists will be assigned random to ensure non-biased community involvement. Each Panel will review about four programs.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT CORNER |
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Free Tax Preparation Clinic Returns to Douglas County
 Seen as one of the single most successful tools in combating poverty, the Earned Income Tax Credit is unfortunately underutilized by those who qualify. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) encourages low-income individuals to work, while helping struggling families escape many financial hardships. United Way's Community Impact Coalition has partnered with West Central Minnesota Community Action to offer an additional free tax clinic in this region. This service is available for families earning up to $49,000 and individuals up to $30,000.
The extra dollars eligible taxpayers can get through the EITC and other tax credits can make life a little easier for many households. All one needs to do is file a tax return, even if they are not required to file, to claim the credit.
Remember some individuals and families may qualify for the credit for the first time because of unemployment or other changes in their financial, marital or parental status during the past year.
Tax Preparation Clinics will be held at the Marion Building, 700 Cedar Street, Alexandria, MN. This service will be available Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 am-8 pm throughout the tax season. To schedule an appointment please call 1-800-492-4805 ext. 100. |
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New Imagination Library Arrivals |
 The new Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Books listed below are for March 2010.
Group 6 (2005) - Why Do Mosquitoes Buzz In People's Ears?
Group 5 (2006) - Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy or Sally and the Purple Socks
Group 4 (2007) - Firefighters to the Rescue
Group 3 (2008) - Big Brother, Little Brother
Group 2 (2009) - Peter Rabbit Rainbow Shapes and Colors
Group 1 (2010) - Giggles With Daddy |
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One Healthy Community Coming On Up! |
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The key to a healthy lifestyle is a healthy diet. That's why everyone should take part in celebrating National Nutrition Awareness Month this March.
 Diet fads come and go, and some may help you lose weight - in the short term. West Central Wellness recognizes that most effective long-term way to achieve a healthful lifestyle is to be 100% Fad Free. Rather, West Central Wellness is looking at system changes that can improve the overall health of our communities. Douglas, Pope, Stevens, Traverse and Grant Counties have joined together to form West Central Wellness, a regional effort to promote community policies that will improve the health of our residents and reduce health care costs. The effort is funded by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Health as part of the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP). SHIP takes a new approach toward prevention by focusing on creating sustainable, systemic changes that make it easier for individuals to make healthy choices in their daily lives. Some prevention programs focus on individual behavior change, which can be difficult to sustain past the life of the program or the individual's involvement in the program. "Changing policies and systems so that our communities support healthy behaviors will make it easier for people to make healthy choices every day and make that change sustainable," Dr. Marc Manley, vice president and medical director of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota said. "The Statewide Health Improvement Program will improve the health of Minnesotans and also help contain the spiraling costs of health care." SHIP tackles the top three causes of preventable illness and death in the United States: tobacco use, physical inactivity and poor nutrition. Together these three factors have been estimated to cause 35 percent of all annual deaths in the United States, or 800,000 deaths each year. These factors also drive up health care costs. SHIP interventions are projected to save an estimated $1.9 billion in Minnesota by 2015. "If we want to truly improve health in Minnesota, we have to move upstream to prevent the chronic diseases that bring people into the health care system in the first place," Dr. Sanne Magnan, Minnesota Commissioner of Health said. "Not only do those chronic diseases reduce the quality of life and life expectancy for Minnesotans, but the costs of treating them create a substantial burden for our health care system. SHIP can reach across the state to improve policies, systems and environments and make it easier for Minnesotans to engage in healthy behaviors that help prevent chronic disease." If you would like to learn more about the local initiative visit http://westcentralwellness.org/ or contact Crystal Hoepner at (320) 762-3054. |
| AGENCY SPOTLIGHT |
Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota
Providing Access to Justice in a Fair, Proficient, Positive, Non-judgmental Manner By Jody Shaskey-Setright
Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota (LSNM) is a public law organization providing free legal representation, community legal education, and self-help materials to low income and elderly residents of 22 northwestern Minnesota counties. LSNM has regional offices in Alexandria, Bemidji, Moorhead, and Thief River Falls. One of the most integral parts of our mission statement is that we provide access to justice in a fair, proficient, positive, non-judgmental manner. We provide this access to individuals who likely have no other option for resolving their legal issues. The Alexandria office of LSNM serves Douglas, Pope, Grant, Otter Tail, Traverse, Wadena, and Stevens counties. LSNM is currently staffed by three attorneys and three support staff. The office is located at 1114 Broadway, Suite 4 in Alexandria. To qualify for legal services, individuals complete an application via telephone, in-person, or online at http://www.lsnmlaw.org. An intake specialist calculates the applicant's income and assets to determine eligibility. Eligible clients then have their case assigned to an attorney. Many cases are handled by providing counsel and advice that resolves the legal issue. However, LSNM attorneys frequently engage in litigation on behalf of clients at the administrative, state, federal, and appellate court levels. The United Way funding received allows them to provide direct services and outreach to clients in Douglas County. The direct services provided include legal representation for individuals facing problems affecting their life, health, safety, employment, family, and other basic subsistence issues. The cases frequently encountered in Douglas County include cases involving children and protection from violence; access to safe and sanitary housing; other shelter issues; disability benefits; other public assistance programs; and consumer issues. In 2008, attorneys in the Alexandria office closed 751 cases. LSNM typically closes between 4,000-5,000 cases annually. In addition to counsel and advice or litigation on specific legal issues, the staff provides training and educational materials on related topics to other agencies, clients, and community groups in Douglas County and the rest of the service area. Due to the struggling economy, LSNM has recently faced the reduction or termination of some sources of funding. Therefore, the funding received from United Way has played a crucial role in continuing services in Douglas County. LSNM is fortunate to have this funding in place, because it has allowed them to continue serving clients without having to limit the types of cases they will accept or the extent of services provided. If you would like to apply for our services or are interested in learning more about LSNM, please contact us at 762-0663 or 1-800-450-2552. |
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 WHAT'S ON UNITED WAY'S COFFEE TABLE?
LINDA'S BOOK RECOMMENDATION |
One person can make changes that affect the lives of millions. Read Three Cups of Tea by Nobel Prize for Literature writer Greg Mortenson.
The book is about Greg's promise to change the lives of the Afghanistan people. From mountain climber to school builder he has touched the lives of thousands.
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St. Mary's Students Give 1000 Books
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St. Mary's School students collected over 1000 books during the week of Feb. 1-5
St. Mary's student David Corneliusen (left) and his teacher Andrew Rustad (right) delivered the books to United Way. The project was part of Catholic Schools Week where each school was asked to do a service learning project.
Thanks St. Mary's students for LIVING UNITED.
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NOTE OF THANKS
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| The following thank you note was recently received which points out when we all work together and LIVE UNITED, we have a direct impact on the lives of others. The note reads:
"Thank you to the supporters of United Way for helping to meet some of the basic needs of people living in poverty. It is empowering and it makes a difference to the whole community. It is nice to be valued in our community. Thank You."
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COMMUNITY IMPACT CALENDAR |
click to print poster
Earned Income Tax Clinic
Mondays and Tuesdays
9 am - 8 pm
Throughout tax season
Marion Building
700 Cedar Street - Alexandria
For appointments call WCMCA at 1-800-492-4805
click to print poster
Mobile Food Drop
March 17
Wednesday 12pm until food runs out New Life Christian Church
1910 Hwy 27 E, Alexandria
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GIVE. |
| Support the "Backpack Attack" and insure eligible children go home with food over the weekend. |
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ADVOCATE. |
| Talk to your local representatives about the importance of good nutrition in school. Providing children nutritious food helps increase students' concentration and performance in school. |
VOLUNTEER.
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| Help assist families; volunteer at a monthly Mobile Food Drop to increase families access to additional food for their families.
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EDUCATION.
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| Educate your child on healthy nutrition & proper portion sizes. |
INCOME.
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| Stretch your $ this summer by planting a garden. |
HEALTH.
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| Fresh produce is a healthy alternative to rolls when hosting a meeting at your office.
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT |
 Jeannie Brever is a great volunteer. She's at each event with a smile, a hug, and willingness to help. During the past year she's volunteered at the mobile food drops, the annual coat drive and Stuff the Bus distribution. Jeannie's smile and enthusiasm is contagious. Thanks Jeannie for LIVING UNITED.
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| VOLUNTEERING |
Whether it is important to you to solve a community problem, advance a worthy cause or to develop as a person, volunteering offers many benefits in appreciation for the gift of your time and expertise. Volunteering can help you:
- Make important networking contacts
- Learn or develop skills
- Teach your skills to others
- Enhance your résumé
- Gain work experience
- Build self-esteem and self-confidence
- Improve your health
- Meet new people
- Feel needed and valued
- Express gratitude for help you may have received in the past from an organization
- Communicate to others that you are ambitious, enthusiastic and care about the community
- Make a difference in someone's life
- Improves the likelihood that children will volunteer as an adult
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| WHAT YOUR MONEY BUYS |
$1 per week provides a backpack full of school supplies to a needy child
$5 per week provides a book each month for a year to 9 children in our community
$10 per week provides 100 children with food so they can eat over the weekend
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HONOR FRIENDS & FAMILY WITH SPECIAL GIFTS
Memorial Gifts
Some things do last forever. By making a memorial gift you can honor a special friend or loved one even after they are gone. Their community was important to them. By giving to United Way, you honor them by supporting people who need it most in their home community. Memorial Gifts to the United Way are listed in our monthly newsletter.
Leave a Legacy
Gifts can take many forms. It can be as basic as designating United Way as a beneficiary in a will or life insurance policy. It can also be more complex, such as designating funds from a trust account. Often times, there can be significant tax advantages as well, depending on asset donated. An experienced financial planner or tax advisor can play an valuable role in determining the appropriate plan. For more information, please contact United Way at 763-4840.
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