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Wednesday, June 4, 2008 -
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are needed throughout Douglas County, and you can
help. For more information on the following opportunities
and others, call the contact listed or the United Way of
Douglas and Pope Counties Volunteer Center at (320)
763-4840. You may also visit the Web site at
www.uwdp.org for other opportunities.
AAAA
Theatre
is looking for people willing to help paint the new dressing
rooms and bathroom after the remodel is done. Materials will
be provided. Contact Mary at 762-8300.
Bethany
Community
would
like to have volunteers take residents outside for walks or
to simply sit and visit on these nice summer days. Call
Brenda at 762-1567 for more information on this or any of
the many other volunteer opportunities they have.
Knute
Nelson
is in need of volunteers to help transporting wheelchair
bound residents to various events and activities within
the facility. The volunteer needs to be someone who is able
to walk a great distance and is able to push wheelchairs.
No lifting required. For more information, please contact
Judy Thielke, Volunteer Coordinator at 763-1162.
School
District #206
is
already planning for next year! Become a puppeteer and share
important information with elementary students about child
abuse prevention and disability awareness. Puppet shows
begin in the fall. Training provided. Contact Ruth at
763-5397 or
rturner@alexandria.k12.mn.us.
Someplace
Safe – Domestic Violence Center,
is
seeking volunteers to assist us in many ways. Make a
difference in the life of someone today!! Please call
762-1995 and ask for Susie if you can help.
The
United Way Community Impact Coalition said it’s happy to
report a total of 376 low-income individuals – 236 from
Douglas and Pope counties – were assisted at the earned
income tax clinics.The clinics were jointly sponsored by
United Way of Douglas and Pope Counties and West Central
Minnesota Communities Actions (WCMCA). Total refunds of
$387,000 were claimed. This money is new money being brought
into the local economy, helping those who need it most,
noted local United Way leaders.
Research
gathered from Alexandria Technical College and the
Alexandria Senior Center indicated that their two clinic
sites in Alexandria would not be enough to meet local needs.
As a result, the Community Impact Coalition partnered with
WCMCA to provide an additional location for residents with
annual incomes of $40,000 or less.Both tax sites announced
that they also had huge success this tax season. The
Alexandria Technical College reported processing 216
returns, for a total refund of $217,979. The Senior Center
assisted with 545 returns, for a refund total of $230,000.
Additional highlights include:
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Filing 28 adjusted returns, getting credits for
individuals for prior years.
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Assisted 91 recipients of Social Security and veterans
benefits to enable them to receive the economic stimulus
packages due out beginning in May 2008.
United
Way leaders said it’s important when looking at this success
to also recognize that money was placed in the hands of
those who needed it most. The average taxpayer assisted at
all three sites had an adjusted gross income of $10,109.
The United Way and the WCMCA thank all the volunteers who
helped at the clinics.
For more
information or to find out how to get involved with United
Way of Douglas and Pope Counties to impact this community,
visit
www.uwdp.org.
Lakes
Area Volunteers in Action (LAVA) is sponsoring a workshop
for volunteer coordinators on Tuesday, June 10, from 9 a.m.
to 12:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Alexandria. Janene
Riedemann will be facilitating the workshop. She brings a
long history of volunteerism, including serving as director
for the central Minnesota division of the March of Dimes
until 1998 at which time she assumed her current position as
director of volunteer services at St. Cloud Hospital.
The two
areas of discussion will be “Marketing Your Volunteer
Program” and “Using Technology in Your Volunteer Program.”
Advance registration for the workshop is $20. For a brochure
or registration information, contact United Way of Douglas
and Pope Counties at (320) 763-4840 or email
united-3@rea-alp.com.
You may also contact Karen Alvstad, LAVA president, at (218)
685-6176.
United
Way and the Community Impact Coalition are right on target
in addressing poverty as a critical issue impacting our
local communities. It seems that this issue has been
receiving increasing attention throughout the country.
Whether
Republican or Democrat, people everywhere are sitting up and
taking notice of the financial struggles faced by an
ever-increasing number of neighbors, friends and families.
This is an issue that transcends any particular geographic
boundary.
John
Edwards made it one of his action items prior to his brief
run for president. He stated, “Restoring our moral authority
means leading by example and making clear that the hard
challenges don’t frighten us. There is no better opportunity
than the challenge of poverty – the great moral issue of out
time.” Noting poverty as the great moral issue of our time,
he challenged the country to cut poverty by a third in a
decade and end it within 30 years.
In
Minnesota, The Legislative Commission to End Poverty by
2020, a bipartisan committee, was established in response to
a group of concerned faith-based Minnesotans. Throughout the
fall the commission traveled throughout Minnesota, gathering
feedback from community members. Alexandria was one
such stop in November. This tour helped the commission
better understand the depth of poverty in Greater Minnesota.
On the local front, the Community Impact Coalition was
created with the intent of identifying solutions and changes
that will have lasting results on our community. This
is a unique opportunity to work alongside many citizens of
Alexandria and to experience a sense of urgency locally as
well as nationally.
Many feel
eliminating poverty is not possible and is a goal that our
nation, state, and community should not actively pursue.
While the question of whether or not poverty can really be
“eliminated” comes up over and over again—it seems that
there is a growing consensus that great strides can be made
to reduce poverty.
Take for
example the focused effort on poverty by Tony Blair. In 1999
he announced a 20-year goal to end child poverty in Great
Britain. The result to date – a 17 percent reduction! Jared
Bernstein of the Economic Policy Institute stated there
simply is no amazingly effective “silver-bullet” idea out
there that we’ve somehow overlooked. He suggests it is
getting the right combinations of “old” ideas and, more
essentially, building the political will to implement them.
When
working with the Community Impact Coalition to address the
daunting topic of struggling families in our community, I
continually have to remind myself of the seventh guiding
principle of the Legislative Commission to End Poverty:“
Government is neither solely responsible for alleviating
poverty nor removed from that responsibility. Government is
the vehicle by which people order their lives based on their
shared vision. Society is well served when people bring
their values in the public arena. This convergence
around issues of poverty and the common good leads people of
varying tradition to call on government to make a critical
commitment to overcoming poverty.” So while government
cannot be removed from the responsibility of alleviating
poverty, they also are not solely responsible. We as a
community need to understand our role. We need to uncover
the right combination of “old’ and “new” that will have a
long lasting impact on our community.
For more
information on local efforts to address poverty, contact
Jessica Boyer at (320) 763-4840. The Community Impact
Coalition meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 7:30
a.m.
On behalf
of United Way of Douglas and Pope Counties, I would like to
thank the Blizzard team for their investment in the
community. Throughout the season, members of the Blizzard
team read to children attending Head Start and Young
People's Place. This was done in conjunction with the
Dolly Parton Imagination Library reading program, offered
locally through United Way. A special thank you goes to the
many Blizzard volunteers for doing such a wonderful job and
for being excellent role models for children. Being
able to offer these children this opportunity not only helps
promote the magic of books, but also provides them with
tools to better prepare them for school. Hats off to
the Blizzard, they definitely have helped make Dolly
Parton’s Imagination Library a hit. Good luck in the next
round of the playoffs!
Jessica
Boyer, Community Impact Director,
United
Way of Douglas and Pope Counties
Douglas
County has been chosen to receive $13,582 to supplement
emergency food and shelter programs in the county. Funding
levels are determined by the federal-based employment and
poverty statistics. These funds help provide emergency
shelter for families as well as assistance for rent/mortgage
payments to help people stay in their current housing.
Qualifying organizations are urged to apply. Under the terms
of the grant from the National Board, local governmental or
private voluntary organizations chosen to receive funds
must:
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Be
non-profit.
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Have
an accounting system and conduct an annual audit.
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Practice non discrimination.
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Have
demonstrated the capacity to deliver emergency food
and/or shelter programs.
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If a
private voluntary organization, must have a voluntary
board.
A local
board coordinated by United Way of Douglas and Pope
Counties, made up of representatives from various community
organizations, will determine how the funds awarded to
Douglas County are to be distributed among the emergency
food and shelter programs run by local service organizations
in the area.
The
deadline for submitting applications is 8 a.m., May 14, at
the United Way office at 115 3rd Avenue West, Alexandria.
Application forms are available at the United Way, (320)
763-4840.
“This is
going to be the hardest year yet.”
“How do
we tell people we can’t give them the money they need?”
“We are
going to be $174,000 short.”
These
were just a few of the disheartening statements I heard
Tuesday evening as I sat in on one of the citizen review
allocation panels for the United Way of Douglas and Pope
Counties. Each year, the United Way asks citizens in the
community to be a part of the allocation process. For
the past few years, when Linda Roles, executive director for
the United Way, makes her presentation at our office, I tell
myself I am going to sign up for the panel. I never did.
But this year, when the presentation was made, it triggered
something inside me and I made the decision to sign up.
I was
told that the members of the panel are responsible for
making recommendations to the United Way board of directors
to help them decide which organizations will receive
funding. In order to receive funding, organizations have to
write a grant to the United Way stating how much money is
needed, how the money will be spent, what would happen if
the money was not there and general information about the
organization – financial records, history, programming,
number of board members, etc. I was nervous. How could
I decide who should get money and who shouldn’t? What makes
one organization better than the other? Whose needs are more
important?
Prior to
Tuesday night, I received a thick packet containing
information on four different organizations. The information
for each was about an inch thick. Overwhelming? Yes.
Interesting and worth reading through? Absolutely! In
addition, the folder contained a ratings sheet for each
organization for us to consider in order of high to low
priority – nurturing children and youth; strengthening
families; increasing self-sufficiency; promoting health and
healing; and fostering independence for seniors. We also
had to consider five different areas, each with a certain
weighted percent, and score them from one to five with one
being unsatisfactory and five being excellent. The five
areas included community needs (35 percent), agency
management (20 percent), program efficiency (20 percent),
financial (15 percent) and partnership with United Way (10
percent).
On
Tuesday night, a representative or two from each
organization addressed the panel explaining the need for
money. The amount requests varied greatly between the
organizations. One asked for $20,000 while another wanted
less than $2,000. I think there were nine of us on the
panel. Some have sat on these panels every year, while some,
like myself, were first timers. After each presentation, I
wanted to hand a check over immediately and say, “Keep up
the great work!” I wanted to give them more than what they
had asked for. But that wasn’t going to happen. For the
first time in years, the United Way can’t grant all the
requests.
It hurts.
When
talking with Linda Roles after the process was done, you
could feel the hurt inside her heart, which by the way, has
to be made of gold. This is Linda’s 10th year of listening
to requests from community organizations. And this is the
first time in those 10 years the United Way is short of
funding and that frustrates Linda. “I don’t know how to tell
the people we don’t have the money,” she said.
There are
nearly 45 organizations dependent on the United Way for
funding. Organizations that range from area Early Childhood
Family Education programs, the Alexandria Senior Center, Boy
Scouts, Girl Scouts, Alexandria Family School, Foster
Grandparents program, The Salvation Army, Alexandria
Literacy Project, Club 1 youth center and so many more. All
of these organizations are important. Each one serves a
different purpose in the community, a different sector of
people.
The
United Way is a phenomenal organization that does way more
for our community than people realize. I urge everyone
to donate to the United Way. If you haven’t already done so,
donate what you can. And if you already gave, give some
more. I am. These organizations are counting on their
communities to help them so that they, in turn, can help
those in the community.
To learn more or to donate, call the United Way at (320)
763-4840, send an e-mail to
unitedw@rea-alp.com
or visit the Web site at
www.uwdp.org.
Monday, April 7, 2008
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United Way starts working for Pope
County
An
informal "leadership meeting" about United Way of Douglas
and Pope Counties was conducted last week at Tom's Food
Pride in Glenwood. Linda Roles talked with community
members about the recent change that merged United Way in
Douglas County with Pope County and its role in fundraising,
fund distribution and community impact of those funds. The
United Way of Douglas and Pope Counties will continue to
conduct a community needs survey and is recruiting
allocations volunteers in Pope County. Roles will be
meeting with community and civic organizations and will
speak at the Glenwood rotary Club this Tuesday. The United
Way's Community Impact Director, Jessica Boyer, has been
working with Pope County schools, social services, public
health and early childhood. More than $20,000 has been
raised in Pope County so far and has been designated for
Pope County. Roles is also in the process of visiting with
Pope County businesses and will conduct a public
informational meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. next Monday,
April 14 at the Church of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church
in Glenwood.
On Monday
April 14, agencies requesting funding during the year
2008/09 will present their programs to citizen review
panels. Sessions begin at 5:30 both evenings.
Panel
volunteers will be assigned a panel at random to ensure
non-biased community involvement.
Panel
members will listen to agency presentations, ask questions
and then as a panel, discuss the agencies and make
recommendations as to whether United Way should fund them
and if so how much.
One to
two weeks prior to allocations, volunteers will receive
information regarding location and time as well as a
proposal from the agencies they will be reviewing. To sign
up, call United Way at 763-4840 or email
www.united-3@rea-alp.com. Sign up forms are available
on the web at
www.uwdp.org.
United Way impacts lives in
Douglas and Pope counties by providing resources to support
programs for youth development, individuals and families in
crisis, emergency services, rehabilitation and specialized
education and senior services. United Way of Douglas & Pope
Counties is a nonprofit organization that mobilizes our
community to create sustained change.
Friday, March 21, 2008
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United Way seeks volunteers for allocation process
One of
the most important things that the United Way does each year
is to determine agency funding. Douglas County residents are
invited to be a part of this annual allocation process.
On Monday
and Tuesday, April 7 and 8, agencies requesting funding
during the year 2008/09 will present their programs to
citizen review panels. Sessions begin at 5:30 both
evenings.
Panel
volunteers will be assigned a panel at random to ensure
non-biased community involvement. Panel members will listen
to agency presentations, ask questions and then as a panel,
discuss the agencies and make recommendations as to whether
United Way should fund them and if so how much.
One to
two weeks prior to allocations, volunteers will receive
information regarding location and time as well as a
proposal from the agencies they will be reviewing. To sign
up, call United Way at 763-4840 or email
www.united-3@rea-alp.com. Sign up forms are available
on the web at
www.uwdp.org.
United
Way impacts lives in Douglas and Pope counties by providing
resources to support programs for youth development,
individuals and families in crisis, emergency services,
rehabilitation and specialized education and senior
services. United Way of Douglas & Pope Counties is a
nonprofit organization that mobilizes our community to
create sustained change.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
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Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are needed throughout Douglas County and you can
help. For more information on the following opportunities
and others, call the contact listed or the United Way of
Douglas & Pope Counties Volunteer Center at 763-4840. You
can also check our website at
www.uwdp.org for other opportunities.
Douglas
County Hospital:
Volunteers can work in a number of areas, including Gift
Shop, Information Desk, Mobile Meal Delivery, and in
Radiation Oncology. Contact Vicki at 762-0624 for more
information.
Puppeteer:
Address important information about disability awareness and
child protection issues using puppetry. Puppet shows each
spring and fall. Training is provided. Contact Ruth at
762-5397.
If you
have an interest in art and interacting with children,
then Masterpiece Art is for you! Visit fourth or fifth grade
classes and discuss artists and their paintings. No formal
art background necessary and lesson plans are provided.
Contact Ruth at 762-5397.
Camp
Host/Hostess:
Host/hostess needed at Smokey Timbers youth and family camp
on beautiful Lake Miltona. Spend the summer on a site with
electricity and a boat lift in exchange for limited camp
oversight responsibilities. Contact WesMin RC at
320-763-3191 ext 5.
Foster
Grandparents:
There
are openings in Alexandria, Brandon, Carlos, Evansville,
Glenwood, Osakis and Starbuck. Please contact Pat at
320-293-0682.
United
Way Allocations:
Volunteers learn about the many valuable health and human
service programs available in Douglas County and make
funding recommendations to the United Way Board of
Directors. Panel members meet on the evenings of April 7th
or 8th. Contact United Way at 763-4840 or email
united-3@rea-alp.com.
Tax Prep
Assistant:
Assist low income individuals preparing their tax forms to
receive the Earned Income Tax Credit. Tax preparers,
greeters, and a meal/refreshment coordinator are a few of
the specific areas where you can help. Contact Jessica at
763-4840 or
united-1@rea-alp.com.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
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Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are
needed throughout Douglas
County, and you can help.
For more
information on the following opportunities and others, call
the contact listed or the United Way of Douglas and Pope
Counties Volunteer Center at (320) 763-4840. You may
also visit the Web site at
www.uwdp.org for other opportunities.
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Volunteers over age 60 who can commit a minimum of 15
hours per week and enjoy helping children in schools or
other sites in the Alexandria, Brandon, Carlos, Starbuck
and Osakis areas should contact Pat at the Central MN
Foster Grandparent Program, (320) 293-0682.
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Love
to fish? Assist participants who are 55-plus on fishing
outings. Let’s Go Fishing with Seniors provides all the
equipment, including the pontoon. Time commitment is two
hours per outing. Contact Jim Schoeberl at (320)
763-6698.
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English as a Second Language tutors are needed locally
by the Alexandria Literacy Project. A training workshop
is scheduled for March 7 and 8. Outreach volunteers are
also needed to help distribute flyers and brochures in
the community. Contact Sandy at (320) 762-0627.
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Join
a puppeteer team to share valuable disabilities
information with elementary students in School District
206. Training is provided. Math assistance for high
school students in algebra, geometry, probability and
stats is also needed. Contact Ruth at (320) 762-5397.
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Allocations volunteers. Help determine how United Way
donations are distributed and learn about the many
health and human service programs available in Douglas
County. Volunteers serve as members of citizen review
panels meeting on the evenings of April 7 or 8. Training
is provided one half hour prior to the presentations.
Panelists receive copies of the requests about two weeks
prior to the presentations. Contact United Way at (320)
763-4840 or e-mail
united-3@rea-alp.com.
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Tax
Prep Assistant – Assist low-income individuals preparing
their tax forms to receive the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Tax preparers, greeters and a meal/refreshment
coordinator are a few of the specific areas where you
can help. Training will be provided. Contact Jessica at
(320) 763-4840 or
united-1@rea-alp.com.
Wednesday,
January 30, 2008
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Free tax preparation clinic comes to Douglas County
The
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) was introduced in 1975.
This credit encourages low-income individuals to work,
while helping struggling families escape the hardships
of poverty.
Approximately 4.4 million people a year are helped by this
program, half of which are children. One of the single most
successful tools in combating poverty is unfortunately
underutilized by those who qualify.
According
to IRS data, the average Douglas County EITC return in 2006
was $1,414. Yet 535 families eligible for the return did not
file, leaving $755,882 unclaimed. That is $755,882 new
dollars that could enter into the hands of those who need it
most in this community.
Recognizing that one in four families fail to file and claim
the EITC, United Way’s Community Impact Coalition partnered
with West Central Minnesota Community Action to assist
low-income individuals and families by offering an
additional free tax preparation clinic. This service,
available for families earning $40,000 or less, links
families with entitled rebates as well as connects them with
any additional services they may be eligible to receive.
Tax
preparation clinics will be held at the Marian Building, 700
Cedar Street, Alexandria. This service will be available
Thursdays from noon to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 4
p.m., through the 2008 tax season.
For more
information on this service or to schedule an appointment,
call 1-800-492-4805, extension 100.
Friday, January 25, 2008
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Fight Poverty;
invest in children
Poverty
is a problem that must be addressed as the gap between the
“haves and have nots” grows daily. Increases in gas prices
and health insurance have had an impact on everyone, but for
those families barely meeting their most basic needs, these
increases have devastating consequences.
January
is National Poverty Awareness Month and Americans are urged
to focus their attention on poverty in the United States. In
spite of the seemingly limitless prosperity and comfort that
many Americans enjoy, 35 million Americans are living below
the government-defined poverty level. These individuals are
going hungry, foregoing medical care, doing without winter
coats and gloves, and struggling to break free from poverty.
Children
and youth are also deeply impacted by the effects of
poverty. Approximately 3,000 residents in our service area
are currently living below poverty level. One in 10 local
children live in poverty; this is not taking into
consideration the additional population that does not fall
within the federal poverty guidelines but struggles to meet
their basic needs.
Locally
the basic needs income for our region is double the Federal
Poverty Guidelines of $20,000, indicating there are more
families struggling daily to meet their basic needs than
many poverty figures indicate. The working poor are
oftentimes forgotten, as they are not seen as “living in
poverty.” They just miss qualifying for assistance and even
as they try to get ahead they cannot meet their most basic
needs.
This
results in many of our local children not being afforded the
same opportunities as their peers. We need to recognize the
diversity of our community and strive to provide all
children with increased access to opportunities and
experiences. Almost 50 percent of Minnesota kindergarten-age
children are not ready to start kindergarten. These children
are lacking developmentally-appropriate language and
literacy skills. Low-income children are typically another
one to two years behind and oftentimes never catch-up.
Research shows that of 50 children who are having trouble
learning to read in kindergarten, 44 will still have trouble
in 3rd grade – and children without reading skills by 3rd
grade are unlikely to graduate.
Investing
in our children and youth will have a positive impact on the
community for years to come. Investing $1 in a child’s
success early on saves $17 down the road with results
measured in lower crime, fewer single parents, and higher
individual earnings and educational levels. Early learning
is the foundation for a strong, competitive economy.
According to the Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis, early
learning can generate a 12 percent public rate of return. So
by supporting investments in young children, together as a
community we can start to make significant changes that will
have positive, long-lasting impacts on the community we are
so proud of.
For more
information on local programs that address the ever
increasing needs of our children and youth, contact Amy
Reineke at 320-886-9412 or visit Douglas County’s Early
Childhood Initiative Web site at
http://www.buildingconnectionseci.org.
This
information was submitted on behalf of Douglas County’s
Early Childhood Initiative-Building Connections.
The
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) was introduced in 1975. This
credit encourages low-income individuals to work, while
helping struggling families escape the hardships of poverty.
Approximately 4.4 million people a year are helped by this
program, half of which are children. One of the single most
successful tools in combating poverty is unfortunately
underutilized by those who qualify.
According
to IRS data, the average Douglas County EITC return in 2006
was $1,414. Yet 535 families eligible for the return did not
file, leaving $755,882 unclaimed. That is $755,882 new
dollars that could enter into the hands of those who need it
most in this community.
Recognizing that one in four families fail to file and claim
the EITC, United Way’s Community Impact Coalition partnered
with West Central Minnesota Community Action to assist
low-income individuals and families by offering an
additional free tax preparation clinic. This service,
available for families earning $40,000 or less, links
families with entitled rebates as well as connects them with
any additional services they may be eligible to receive.
Tax
preparation clinics will be held at the Marian Building, 700
Cedar Street, Alexandria. This service will be available
Thursdays from noon to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 4
p.m., through the 2008 tax season.
For more
information on this service or to schedule an appointment,
call 1-800-492-4805, extension 100.
United
Way of Douglas & Pope Counties funds local health and human
service agencies that provide direct services in the
following areas: nurturing children and youth, strengthening
families, increasing self-sufficiency, promoting health and
healing, and fostering independence for seniors.
Citizen
Review Panels consisting of 8-10 community volunteers will
review agencies presenting their funding needs. United Way
Board of Directors funding decisions will be based on panel
recommendations. All community members are invited to
participate. Pope County’s Citizen Review Panels will meet
on April 14, 2008 at Glenwood Lutheran Church from
5:30-9:00pm.
Applications are available on the web at
www.uwdp.org or by
contacting our office. Pope County funding requests
need to be submitted to the United Way office by 4:30 p.m.
on Friday, Feb. 29, 2008.
For more
information on the allocations process or to volunteer to be
on a panel, contact Jessica Boyer at 320-763-4840.
United Way’s investment of time, relationships, technology,
expertise, money, and other resources are focused on
specific strategies for improving lives related to pressing
community issues. If you are interested in learning more
about the United Way of Douglas & Pope Counties, email Linda
Roles at
unitedw@rea-alp.com
or call 320-763-4840.
For more
information on the following opportunities and others, call
the contact listed or the United Way of Douglas and Pope
Counties Volunteer Center at (320) 763-4840. Information is
also available on the Web site
www.uwdp.org.
Allocations volunteers. Help determine how United Way
donations are distributed and learn about the many valuable
health and human service programs available in Douglas
County. Volunteers serve as members of Citizen Review Panels
meeting on the evenings of April 7 or 8. Training is
provided one-half hour prior to the presentations. Panelists
receive copies of the requests about two weeks prior to the
presentations. Call (320) 763-4840 or e-mail
unitedw@rea-alp.com.
Tax
prep assistant. Assist low-income individuals prepare
their tax forms to receive the Earned Income Tax Credit. Tax
preparers, greeters and a meal/refreshment coordinator are a
few of the specific areas where help is needed. Training
will be provided in mid-January. Contact Jessica at (320)
763-4840 or
united-1@rea-alp.com.
Volunteer greeter. Knute Nelson Home is looking for
greeters at their reception desk on Saturdays and Sundays.
Shifts are from 9 a.m. to noon and noon to 3 p.m. For
information, contact Judy Thielke at (320) 763-1162.
Junior
achievement leaders are needed for School District 206.
The program runs February to April. Leaders work with
elementary-age children. Contact Ruth at (320) 762-5397 or
rturner@alexandria.k12.mn.us.
Foster
grandparents. Local openings for volunteers interested
in having fun while working with elementary-age children,
focusing on developing their academic abilities and social
skills. A small stipend for transportation expenses is
available. Contact Pat Newell at (320) 293-0682 or
pnewell@gw.stcdio.org.
Volunteers are in need of scrapbook supplies for The
Salvation Army summer camps in June and July. Supplies may
be dropped off at the United Way offices. For information
contact Jenny at 304-4233.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
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United Way accepting funding
requests
United Way of Douglas and Pope Counties’ allocation
process for 2008/09 agency funding is under way.
Applications are available on the Web at
www.uwdp.org or by contacting its office. Douglas
County funding requests need to be submitted to the
United Way office by 4:30 p.m. on January 31, 2008.
United Way funds local health and human service agencies
that provide direct services in the following areas:
nurturing children and youth, strengthening families,
increasing self-sufficiency, promoting health and
healing, and fostering independence for seniors.
Citizen review panels consisting of eight to 10
community volunteers will review a select number of
agencies presenting their funding needs. United Way
board of directors’ funding decisions will be based on
panel recommendations.
All
community members are invited to participate. Douglas
County’s citizen review panels will meet on April 7-8 at
First Congregational Church from 5:30 to 9 p.m.
For
more information on the allocations process or to
volunteer to be on a panel, contact Jessica Boyer at
(320) 763-4840.
United Way’s investment of time, relationships,
technology, expertise, money and other resources are
focused on specific strategies for improving lives
related to pressing community issues. If you are
interested in learning more about the United Way of
Douglas and Pope Counties, visit
www.uwdp.org. You can e-mail Linda Roles at
unitedw@rea-alp.com or call (320) 763-4840.
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