The Greater Mankato Area United Way has launched its annual fundraising campaign, and there are now more reasons than ever to give.
The United Way has taken a major role in raising awareness of community problems and leading the way for solutions. Boosting access to youth mental health treatment and raising awareness of the fentanyl overdose crisis are two issues where the United Way is making a difference.
When it became clear during the pandemic and after that there was a great need for youth mental health services, the United Way partnered with schools and others to hire mental health navigators for area schools.
The navigators help families access mental health services and have helped hundreds of families in just a few short years. The navigators have helped reduce waiting times for mental health therapists for youth from six months or a year to just a few weeks.
There are now several navigators in the four counties where the United Way works.
The United Way recently organized an educational event on the fentanyl overdose crisis. The event included top law enforcement from Blue Earth County and Mankato, probation officers, addiction and mental health providers and former addicts. The event was livestreamed on The Free Press Facebook page.
These proactive efforts to emerging community issues show that the United Way is not only supporting dozens of organizations every year who serve everyone from children to the elderly, but the organization is dynamic and takes a leadership role in addressing urgent community issues.
All programs that receive United Way funding are vetted by local volunteer professionals in evaluation groups. There is a wide range of local groups who receive funding from the YMCA to VINE Faith in Action senior center. Programs that fund the growing food insecurity receive United Way funding as do those who serve the homeless.
In all, the United Way funds 65 programs in 44 agencies serving Blue Earth, Nicollet, Waseca and Le Sueur counties. You can find a list of partner agencies at: https://www.mankatounitedway.org/partner-agencies.
The United Way books for kids programs sent out some 30,000 books to children in the United Way region with its partner Capstone Press. Another program provides all fourth graders with a Shell Silverstein book “Where the Sidewalk Ends.”
Many of the United Way funded agencies are geared to helping youth and creating a safe community that supports youth. In that sense, the United Way is a pillar of support for the growth of a healthy community. The organization focuses on three impact areas including basic needs, health and education.
The organization has again raised its goal this year to $2.35 million, an increase of $100,000, because the needs continue to grow.
We urge everyone to support the United Way through employer payroll deductions or by sending a donation. You can pledge online at https://www.mankatounitedway.org/pledge.
Now is a good time to start giving to the United Way if you haven’t or to increase your pledge if you can. The efforts of United Way agencies deserve support in these challenging times.