United Way Needs All Hearts on Deck!

United Way of Southeast Missouri
February 2017 Newsletter

Your Dollars at Work:

Imagine you are legally blind, and you can't afford new glasses. Where can you go for help?

First Call For Help information and referral program is a free telephone helpline that, following the mission of United Way, matches people in need to available resources. The program also offers a website that can be used to search for resources in the five counties it serves: Cape Girardeau, Scott, Stoddard, Bollinger, and Perry.

First Call For Help assists around 2,500 individuals annually. While only one phone call is needed to help many of the callers, sometimes case assistance can last much longer. In the case of the man needing glasses, FCFH worked very closely with the client and his vision care provider for 11 months to provide a positive outcome to a very challenging situation... Read More.

#GiveFromtheHeart

Now more than ever we need our loyal donors to give more, advocate louder, and encourage others to volunteer.

Have you seen pink hearts at banks, restaurants, and retailers in the communities we serve? Hopefully, you have seen them and made a donation to 'purchase' one!

We are in the final weeks of our 'mini campaign,' Give from the Heart, running through February. Give from the Heart was created last year for reasons beyond simply wanting to boost the funds we invest back into our community. It gives small businesses that do not run a workplace campaign an opportunity to support United Way. It also serves as a reminder that United Way of Southeast Missouri works year-round, not just in the fall when we kick off our community drive.

Our efforts to Give from the Heart do not have to end in February. If you have an idea for how your business or organization can Give from the Heart, please contact us. We will add our thanks to these area businesses that are participating. We ask that you visit them and thank them for their support when you have the opportunity.

Alliance Bank

Ameren Missouri

Beef O Brady's

Belladonna

Broadway Presciption

Coad Toyota

Commerce Bank

Cup N Cork

Kuts Plus

Mississippi Mutts

MRV Bank

Patricks Furniture

Stevens Chiropractic

The Bank of Missouri

ERB Equipment

Judith's Antiques & Gung Ho Militaria

Annie-Em's at Home

Stash

Ophelia

Renaissance

Premiere Antiques

Zikfield's Jeweler

These funds support the 34 programs UWSEMO invests in to strengthen our community. These include a new Boys & Girls Club in Scott City, a new food pantry in Bollinger County, and a new 4-H program focused on career development for high school students.

The good news is, we aren't the only ones expanding our reach. Every year there are more people and agencies trying to help others. The bad news is it means more of us are sharing donor dollars. .. Read More.

Save the Date!

Join the ladies of Women United (formerly GRACES) for 'Margs with a Mission' Paint Night. All proceeds will go toward our annual Mini-Grants.

When: Wednesday, April 26 at 5:30

Where: El Sol

More details to follow soon!

Play with Letters and Get a Free Book!

Join United Way and the Cape Girardeau Public Library on Saturday, March 4th for Born Learning/Racing to Read: Play with Letters!

This event, targeted for infants through children age 6, is an opportunity for families to interact with stories, songs and fingerplays. All children will get to take a free book home to add to their library!

This program is in partnership with United Way Worldwide's Born Learning initiative. Everyday life is a learning experience for children. Born Learning is a public engagement campaign that helps parents, grandparents and caregivers explore ways to turn everyday moments into fun learning opportunities for their pre-K children. Since 2006, research-based best practices have helped over 15 million parents advance childhood success.

Gold Investors

Silver Investors

Important Dates

2/24 - Bank of Missouri Trivia Night, 7pm Jackson Civic Center

2/28 - Wings Etc. Share Night, all day, Cape and Jackson Locations

3/1 - Katy O'Ferrell's Share Night (all day)

4/13 - Community Campaign Celebration, 11:30-1:00, Jackson Civic Center

4/18 - Gordonville Grill Share Night (all day)

4/26 - Women United Paint Night, 5:30pm, El Sol

Volunteer Corner

Read to Succeed

Help a young reader for 30-60 minutes one or more days a week.. more information.

Tiger Book Club

Volunteers are needed to help struggling readers at Central Middle School in a new Tiger Book Club on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:20-3:15. Volunteers will lead a book club of 4-5 students in fifth and sixth grades. Contact [email protected]

or call 573-334-6281 to get involved today.

Boys & Girls Club of

Southeast Missouri

Help B&GC members with homework, arts and crafts, physical activities or other programs or create your own project or special event. Be on the lookout for more volunteer information coming soon as the Club opens their new Scott City location... more information.

Habitat for Humanity

Two Habitat homes are underway; 1 in Cape and 1 in Jackson; volunteers are needed with light construction and painting... more information .

Habitat ReStore

Volunteers are needed to help provide customer service and/or sort merchandise at the Cape retail store... more information.

Salvation Army

Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to assist with the after school program. Individuals would mentor, tutor and build relationships with students in the 5th through 12th grade.. more information.

Voices for Children/CASA

CASA provides well-trained court appointed volunteers to speak on behalf of child victims of abuse and neglect who are in foster care in the three county 32nd Judicial Circuit of Missouri.. more information.

Fostering Futures

The Fostering Futures Program is a supplemental program to Voices for Children/CASA's advocacy program. Fostering Futures specifically serves youth ages 14-18 who will, most likely, age out of foster care without ever being adopted. The program is designed to assist youth in a successful transition from foster care to adulthood... more information.

If you are a partner organization seeking volunteers and wish to share the information with UnitedWay of Southeast Missouri and our supporters, please fill out our Volunteer Opportunities Form.

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