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Update: 2/29/2008
The United Way of Mifflin-Juniata is in the final days of the annual campaign and reports reaching 95% of the 595,900 goal or $564,911. "The goal may seem lofty, even over ambitious, but more importantly, it is one which is driven by the very compelling health and human-service needs we've witnessed throughout the counties," said Marie Mulvihill, Executive Director of the United Way. She went on to say that many company campaigns held their own or increased their giving this year but United Way lost ground with the loss of the New Holland employee campaign along with two other major firms that had substantial decreases. "At the same time, more people are seeking help - with fuel, rent, medical bills, and prescriptions."
"My sense is that people are unsettled in their financial situation and that has been the challenge with this year's efforts," said Mulvihill. The uncertainty seems to have especially spooked the kind of donor who would have given $100 to United Way in the past and this year gave $50 or $25 or even nothing. At the same time, people who are giving tend to be giving more. "In our case, uncertainty is worse sometimes than something actually happening," she said.
United Way funded programs play a vital role in the quality of life in our communities. United Way supports those agencies that meet basic needs for food, clothing and shelter, while also addressing the needs of children and families through collaborative outcomes-based initiatives.
Annual face to face reviews by volunteers with United Way agency partners during the Community Investment process (formerly Fund Distribution) reinforced our belief that the dollars we raise are absolutely crucial to the agency programs we support.
The following are the four impact areas that United Way focuses on and the agencies and initiatives providing programs that address those impact areas:
Successful Children and Youth Strengthening children and families by providing opportunities and resources in atmospheres that are drug-free, supervised and educational, while providing valuable learning tools and life skills.
Fayette Lions Den - Summer Playground Program
Lumina Center - Connecting With Kids
Delauter Youth Center
Juniata Valley Boy Scouts- Comprehensive Youth Development and Camping
Mifflin County Playground Association - Summer Playground Programs
Mifflin County Library - Early Literacy and Beyond
Child Care Information Services (CCIS) - Mifflin and Juniata County subsidies
Big Brothers Big Sisters - Mentoring
Juniata County Library - Children's Services
Success By 6
Basic Needs and Self-Sufficiency: Aiding people with resources to meet basic needs, such as food, shelter, clothing, and utilities that allows them to more towards self-sufficiency.
Abuse Network - Hollister House
Juniata Association for the Blind - Seeing a Brighter Future
American Red Cross - Emergency Response
Juniata County Salvation Army Service Extension - Emergency Services
Mifflin-Juniata Dental Clinic - Dental subsidies for children, special needs adults and pregnant women
Mifflin County Salvation Army - Emergency Services
Mifflin-Juniata Energy Bank - Heating assistance with a case management component
Summer Food Service Program
Community Life and Health: Proving children, adults, families, and seniors with education, awareness, and recreation opportunities to improve daily life.
Mifflin-Juniata Special Needs Center - Community Life Connections
Fayette Area Lions Den - Fitness for Everyone scholarships
Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA - SHAPE up Stars
Juniata Valley YMCA - Financial Assistance Program
Belleville Recreation Board - Community Enrichment
Dental Education Outreach to Schools with Kiwanis clubs and the MJ Dental Clinic
Flu Clinics with MJ PATH (Mifflin-Juniata Partners Advancing Tomorrow's Health)
Education: Supporting youth and adults by providing resources that promote life-long learning
Mifflin County Library - Libraries Changing Lives
Success By 6
The annual campaign officially closes on March 15 with the Campaign Dinner being held on March 27, 2008. "We're cautiously optimistic, but we won't know until the numbers are in," said Neil Aumiller, Resource Development Director. "Everyone's dollar counts if we are to be successful," said Aumiller. "Please take time now to pledge to the 2008 campaign and help those people in our area that are in need of help due to circumstances that are many times out of their control but no less devastating to their families."
Donations can be made to the United Way of Mifflin-Juniata, 13 East Third Street, Lewistown, PA, 17044. Phone: (717) 248-9636. or online at http://www.mjunitedway.org/
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