News
NEIGHBORS IN NEED
It’s hard to to support charity in hard times, but these are the times when it’s needed most, even here in the comfortable communities of Ozaukee County.
Reprinted with permission by the Ozaukee Press, Thursday, December 24, 2009
It makes sense but it is still hard to accept: When services supported by charity are needed most, people are least able to contribute the money charities need to do their work.
The United Way of Northern Ozaukee is facing that hard reality now. For the first time in years, it finds itself, on the eve of Christmas and near the end of its annual charity drive, far short of its contributions goal.
Worthy charitable causes abound, but none is more important here in our communities than the United Way—because the money it raises helps people who live here.
In encouraging support of the United Way we often point out that it does more than help the neediest among us; it supports organizations that help every one of us by nurturing the good life in our communities, the likes of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Interfaith Caregivers, Ozaukee Family Services and the Volunteer Center.
But this year the more compelling reason to give is that agencies that provide essential assistance to families and individuals that are in such difficult straits they can’t afford the necessities of life are counting more than ever on the United Way.
The services of United Way agencies such as the Salvation Army and Family Sharing, which address the physical needs for clothing and food, and COPE Services, which offers help to the emotionally needy, are more in demand than they have been for many years.
We all know the reason for this: The damaged economy, particularly the unemployment it has spawned, has left many people who were once comfortable or at least self-sufficient in precarious places financially and even emotionally.
This brings us back to the variation of Catch 22 with which we began this editorial. With business struggling and many people with incomes from their jobs reduced or gone altogether, charitable contributions are bound to suffer—just when they’re needed most.
United Way pledges from the crucial large company sector of the campaign are down as much as 50%. Contributions from smaller companies and their employees and individual solicitations are lagging too.
Though the 2009 United Way goal of $185,000 is no more than last year’s, which was achieved, less than 70% of it has been donated or pledged.
High on our list of worthless statistics is the one that ranks Ozaukee County as the richest county in the state and one of the wealthiest in the nation. This is based on averages that obscure the truth that there are people in this county who without assistance would not have enough to eat.
Staff members and volunteers at agencies in Ozaukee County that distribute food and clothing to people who lack those basics of life will testify to that fact.
Family Sharing of Ozaukee County is helping more families than ever before—a number that rose to 1,200 this month. The Food Pantry at St. Peter’s Church in Port Washington (not a United Way agency but serving the same need as Family Sharing and other organizations) is all but overwhelmed each Tuesday by the crowds that gather for food distributions.
The United Way’s shortfall is understandable in these trying times, but it should not be considered acceptable, just as it is not acceptable that people living in Ozaukee County do not have enough food to eat or warm clothing to wear or have such scant means that every cent they can scrape together has to go for groceries, leaving nothing for even a few simple gifts to give their children on Christmas.
There are a number good reasons to contribute to the United Way, but the reason that matters most right now is that people in our communities are suffering from the effects of poverty and we can help them by helping the United Way.
Information on making a donation is available at www.unitedwayno.org.
LIVE UNITED SUCCESS STORY
Beth has flourished as she embraces new opportunites
Almost 20 years ago, a lovely young woman walked through the front doors of Portal Industries Alternative Day Services and decided this just wasn’t for her. Her name was Beth, and she has down syndrome. But after 15 years, Beth’s little sister thought it was time to give Portal another try and pushed her parents to revisit. So they did.
Admittedly, things didn’t go very well at first. Tears and anxiety usually started off each day as Beth waved goodbye to her parents. And though she would participate in the activities, she longed for her time at Portal to end, constantly asking staff members for the time.
When hope was nearly lost, a staff member had an idea to offer Beth a watch so she could see when it was time for lunch, an activity or going home. Beth’s watch quickly became a major turning point in her life. Now five years later, Beth has flourished as she embraces new opportunities, such as ceramics, plays and concerts, scrapbooking, sign language classes and art club. She also works on a regular basis with Meals on Wheels, folding church bulletins and working on the production floor. In fact, she currently works 4 to 5 hours per week with requests to work even more.
Beth’s inspiring story is a testament to the wonderful opportunities that Portal Industries Alternative Day Services provide to help all people become contributing members of society.
In the photo on the left is Beth Behnke - Portal Program Coordinator. Beth Poull a Portal participant is on the right.
