By Jim Raykie
August 10, 2008 09:43 pm
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As we March full-steam ahead through August, thoughts swirl around back-to-school shopping, the onset of the prep football season, and occasional hints of fall in the air, among others.
As the tail end of summer approaches, another important activity that comes to the forefront is the annual campaign of the United Way of Mercer County. This year’s effort will be a historic one because it will include the former Northern Mercer County United Way, which was based in Greenville.
The two groups recently voted to join forces, a move hailed by all involved as critical to the continued growth of the United Way and its funding of area agencies.
I have met a couple of times recently with Frank Evans, who is co-chairing the 2008 campaign with his wife, Linda. We talked about the United Way in general, and The Herald’s role not only in the reporting of the effort, but in the education of area residents about the scope of the United Way agencies and the thousands of lives that they affect.
The newer, stronger United Way has adopted a theme of “Live United” to reflect the merger. It’s appropriate because the United Way is more than a four-month effort. Giving the United Way should be an important part of our lives, whether we can afford $520 a year or $52 a year, because every dollar counts.
In my time at The Herald, I have talked with residents who have balked at giving to the United Way because they don’t like a particular agency or agree with the way it is operated. Or they may dislike the head of another agency. And while it’s OK to have that opinion, it’s no reason to refrain from giving to the dozens of other agencies that help your neighbors in need. Believe me, we all have them, but simply may not realize it.
I had the opportunity recently to sit down with Susan Kidd and Christinia Gargas of the American Red Cross of Trumbull and Mercer Counties. Susan is the health and safety services marketing specialist at the Mercer County office in Sharpsville, and Christinia is the director of volunteers and public relations.
Like others from other United Way agencies with whom I have met, they have great passion for their work, and they are dedicated to the mission and goals of the Red Cross in helping people who are in need, far beyond the general definition of the Red Cross as dealing in “blood and flood.”
It’s uplifting to hear people like Susan and Christinia talk about their agency, about ways of helping people, and strategies of raising awareness of what the Red Cross really stands for and accomplishes on a daily basis, especially in times of emergency.
When you pick up any day’s edition of The Herald, and read about the good work that groups are carrying out regularly to help Mercer County area people, chances are most of them are affiliated with the United Way and dearly need your support, if only a dollar a week.
During the heyday of industry in the Mercer County area, employees as well as corporate gifts from stalwarts like Sharon Steel Corp., National Castings, General American, Westinghouse Electric Corp, Greenville Steel Car and Chicago Bridge & Iron were the foundations of the United Way.
None of them is around any more, and the companies that are left, coupled with an ongoing grass roots campaign where every dollar counts, have to form the broader-based foundation on which the United Way and its agencies can continue their good work.
Most everyone is familiar with the Christmas holiday film classic, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” In the movie, George Bailey, through his liaison with an angel in need of wings, gets to see what life would have been like in fictional Bedford Falls had he not been around to contribute as he had to the community. Without George, life was radically different.
That would be a great way to illustrate the importance of the United Way and its agencies throughout Mercer County history. What would life be like in our area today had we not had them to help the masses for all these years?
Like George Bailey found out, we would be astounded and humbled by their impact.
Jim Raykie is the editor of The Herald and writes this column on Mondays. His email is jraykie@sharonherald.com
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Jim Raykie