United Way of Greater KingsportLive United - United Way
GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER.

 October 2012 ENews
http://www.uwaykpt.org
"Community"   
Dear Friends,  
 
Most people probably don't get inspired sitting in a board meeting, but I did recently.  What inspired me was the sense of "community" I witnessed.  Now ideas and theology inspire some people, but personally, I'm hands on.  I want to see it. 

Community is a word that is sometimes hard to see, but from my seat at the table I see it all around me, everyday.  I hope you do too.  I saw and heard four people who came into community here in the Greater Kingsport area.  The first person was born here, went off to school, and chose to come back.  She's glad she did.  The second person was born here, but was from the other side of the tracks.  Life was harder than for most.  He went off and gladly came back.  The third person was a junior in high school when his father's job brought him to this remote place.  He too came back with his wife and later retired here.  A career move brought the fourth person here four years ago.   

A common thread woven through their life stories was that when they give back to the community, they always GET more than they GIVE.  They value their professional accomplishments, but all four, when given the opportunity to speak, talked about community involvement.  All four are very happy.  All four are making our community a better place.
 

In the same meeting, the executive director of a non-profit that services older adults in our community shared her mother's words of wisdom:  "Be nice to them, remember they raised you!"  She remembered those words and used them to guide her as she has served in this non-profit for 18 years.  It made me think, who are we raising?   
 
I continue to be surprised by time.  I'm surprised that those "kids" in our youth group, who were members when my family first moved to town, are now lawyers, dentists, and teachers in our community.  I'm surprised to think that one of my own kids is off at college and is interviewing for a "real job."  My husband is surprised that he is the person with grey hair at our high school reunion.  In these mid-years of my life, I clearly see the impact we make on people in our community is critical because these same people will soon be running our community. 

Let's modify an old proverb to say, "Train up a community in the way it should go."  As we do that, we leave a positive future for the next generation. . .full of stories and good deeds, and full of people that want to move here or move back here.  We leave a place where education is excellent, jobs are plentiful, and healthy lifestyles abound.  It's a place where people are inspired to know the joy of giving, the joy of community, the joy of reaching out a hand to one.  These people understand how their actions influence the condition of all.
 

For United Way of Greater Kingsport, this is our season of asking people to give back to this community--right now.  Don't put off tomorrow, the good that you can do today.  Choose today to GIVE, ADVOCATE, and VOLUNTEER.  And, like people in the board meeting, you may be surprised at how much you receive from giving. 
 

Living United, 

Danelle Glasscock
Executive Director 
United Way Campaign is Well Underway 
 
With a little more than four weeks to go, United Way of Greater Kingsport (UWGK) has achieved approximately 73% or $2,748,750 of our $3.75 million goal. "We are grateful for the continued generosity of the community," said Campaign Chair John Perdue.  "Our member agencies couldn't continue to provide the programs and services so desperately needed without the support of businesses, organizations, and individuals in the Greater Kingsport area.  When everyone gives something, we all benefit." 

United Way leadership made a decision to increase the goal by $125,000 this year to expand its reach.  "Due to the generosity of our donors, we were able to take on four new programs this year which all fill important gaps within our community," said Community Investment Chair Eddie Simmers.  Three of the programs fall within agencies that already have United Way funded programs and one program brings a new agency to United Way.  The new programs are as follows:
  • Interfaith Hospitality Network -- The newest UWGK agency is enhancing the lives of homeless families by providing temporary shelter and support and assistance as families work to become self-sufficient. 
  • Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center -- Equine Services for Heroes is providing equestrain-assisted therapy to veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. 
  • Mountain Region Speech and Hearing (MRSH) -- MRSH Hearing Aids is providing hearing aids to seniors who qualify for financial assistance.
  • Children's Advocacy Center -- Victim's Services is providing counseling and assistance to the non-offending parents or caregivers of victims. 
United Way provides funding for 44 programs within 29 health and human service agencies and supports other community initiatives.  "Every donation is important in helping us to further our mission of improving lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community to address local health and human service needs effectively," said Campaign Chair Perdue.    

United Way actively participates with multiple community partners in identifying, addressing, and tackling the root causes of health and human service issues facing families in the Kingsport community.  "Together, we can do more than any single group can on its own," remarked Perdue.   

Giving to United Way of Greater Kingsport is easy.  Community members wishing to participate in improving lives in our community are encouraged to Click Here to GIVE, ADVOCATE, and VOLUNTEER to the United Way of Greater Kingsport.

 

Donors may also mail a contribution or drop by the United Way office at 301 Louis Street, Suite 201, Kingsport, TN  37660.  The campaign runs through November 16, 2012.  Also, please attend our UWGK Planned Community Celebration, which will be held on November 16 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. in the Douglass Room of the V.O. Dobbins Community Complex.  Register Now Via Email!  


UWGK thanks all who make a difference by GIVING, ADVOCATING, and VOLUNTEERING.  When we work together to improve lives in our community, we truly Live United! 
 

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Food City Celebrity Bagging Event on November 20, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. at four Food City locations (See article below for more details!)
  • UWGK Planned Community Celebration on November 16, 2012 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. in the Douglass Room of the V.O. Dobbins Community Complex.

Register Now Via Email 

Volunteers Prepare Food for Meals on Wheels of Kingsport, Inc.

Agency Spotlight:  

Meals on Wheels 

 

Meals on Wheels of Kingsport, Inc. has been delivering hot, nutritious meals to impaired residents in our community since the early 1970s when Waverly Road Presbyterian Church donated the use of their kitchen to three women who started the volunteer effort.  As the need increased, a second kitchen was opened in 1985 at the Dickson Center and later moved to First Presbyterian Church.    

 

Today, Meals on Wheels has thirteen routes that cover nearly all the different neighborhoods of Kingsport, extending outside the city limits in the Bloomingdale and Lynn Garden Drive areas.  A fourteenth route, which expands the service area in Bloomingdale, was recently added to assist those who have been waiting for six months to receive the noontime meals.   

 

Over 250 meals are prepared and delivered each weekday (including holidays) from the Waverly Road and First Presbyterian Church kitchens. Approximately 500 volunteers give their time and skill to keep Meals on Wheels moving.  Out of the 500, 340 participate by driving the meals prepared by 160 volunteer cooks and kitchen helpers.

 

The volunteers come from all walks of life and age ranges.  Many are working adults who use their lunch hours to help fellow community members.  Seniors and families whose children are home schooled are also an integral part of the program, ensuring impaired community members have food even in inclement weather.   

 

Meals on Wheels of Kingsport could not operate without the generosity of United Way of Greater Kingsport donors and  community members who are affiliated with local churches, service clubs, civic organizations, etc.

 

Information on being a Meals on Wheels volunteer is available by calling Volunteer Kingsport at (423) 247-4511.  Also, be sure to check out  Meals on Wheels Facebook page.

 

Speaking of Facebook. . .

 

While you are on Facebook checking out the Meals on Wheels page, also plan to visit the UWGK's page.  Our page has lots of posts captured from our member agencies and even extreme volunteerism examples related to our annual campaign.   

 

One such example involves TEC Industrial supervisors who promised to shave their heads if employees met the challenge of increasing campaign participation and giving.  Shaved heads now abound at TEC Industrial as employees rallied and not only met, but surpassed the challenge.

 

Check out the photo of Don Donnellan, Joel Mears, Basil Simpson, and Paul Randolph who have less hair thanks to fellow employee and sometimes barber, Marty Stanley.   Click Here For UWGK Facebook.

 

Like us on Facebook 

Food City Celebrity Bagging Event Is Nov. 20

Kingsport Mayor Dennis Phillips
Bags Groceries


Four Food City stores (Clinchfield Street, Eastman Road, Moreland Drive, and Highway 394 in Blountville) will welcome local celebrities as they bag groceries for store patrons on Tuesday, November 20 from 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.  Proceeds from customers who tip the baggers, or add donations to their grocery bills will benefit UWGK member agency programs. 

 

Live United - GAV
UWGK Thanks Our 2012-2013 Pacesetters
  • American Red Cross of NE TN
  • Appalachian Power Company
  • BAE Systems
  • Bank of Tennessee
  • Big Brothers/Big Sisters of East TN
  • Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kingsport
  • Brock Services, Ltd.
  • CASA for Kids, Inc.
  • Citizens Bank
  • City of Kingsport
  • 2-1-1 Contact Concern
  • Day & Zimmermann
  • Domtar
  • Eastman Credit Union
  • Edwards Tipton Witt Agency
  • First Tennessee Bank
  • Frontier Health
    Frontier Industries, Holston Children & Youth Services, Holston Counseling, Link House, and SAFE House
  • Girls, Inc. of Kingsport
  • Holston Valley Medical Center/Wellmont Health System
  • Indian Path Medical Center/Mountain States Health Alliance
  • Jacobs Field Services
  • John R. Hay House
  • Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Kingsport Child Development Center
  • Kingsport Housing & Redevelopment Authority
  • Legal Aid of East Tennessee
  • Literacy Council of Kingsport
  • Mountain Region Speech & Hearing Center
  • Personal Support Services (First TN Human Resource Agency)
  • The Salvation Army
  • Sequoyah Council, Boy Scouts of America
  • TEC Industrial
  • TriSummit Bank
  • United Way of Greater Kingsport   
United Way Worldwide 701 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
©United Way Worldwide. All Rights Reserved
Unsubscribe