United Way grants emergency funds to feed area families

Shelves at Soup Or Socks (SOS) food pantry will be restocked soon, a relief for area families. In response to SOS’s shortage, Marshfield Area United Way took urgent action to grant emergency funds to replenish food supplies in the pantry.

At last week’s Vision Council, Cheryl Hartl, SOS program director, reported the use of her program had increased and supplies were steadily decreasing.

“We have had 200 more people using the pantry as compared to last year. Usage is up and supplies are down,” Hartl said at the Vision Council.

“I called Cheryl after the Vision Council and suggested she submit a grant request to receive supplemental funding to hold her over until upcoming food drives, said Sarah Krenn, community impact coordinator.

But as the week progressed and United Way staff continued discussing SOS’s need, it became clear that action needed to be taken right now.

United Way’s grant deadline is November 1 and Executive Director Kim Baltus and Krenn were concerned Hartl wouldn’t receive the money soon enough. After a grant is submitted, it needs to be reviewed by the Community Impact Committee and approved by the Board. A funding check wouldn’t be issued until the week of Thanksgiving.

“We needed to take immediate steps to ensure the program could continue to serve our residents,” said Baltus.

“Cheryl and I spoke about the program’s options, and issuing this emergency grant for $5,000 was the best way to address this need and get them through December 31, 2007. We didn’t want the program to continue in this deficit or run out of food again in late December,” Krenn said.

Marshfield Area United Way’s quick response to make a great community impact was because of the generosity of last year’s contributions to its annual campaign. To help United Way continue its work with programs in our community, like Soup Or Socks, you can contributed to its 2007 campaign by giving through your workplace, call the United Way office at 384-9992 or visit marshfieldareaunitedway.org.

United Way invests excess dollars in community programs

This spring Marshfield Area United Way is able to fill existing funding gaps in seven United Way programs to help them better serve the community. This additional funding of $14,840 is available because funds raised by Marshfield Area United Way’s annual campaign results exceeded its total allocation budget for 2007.

Each spring, programs put together a packet detailing their program’s missions and goals, financials, how they help people and ways they are improving our community.

Volunteers from all walks of life review these packets, speak with program representatives and make recommendations to the Board of Directors to decide what funding the applicants receive. At the end of the process, there are programs each Review Panel recommends for additional funding, if United Way has the financial ability to do so.

Last year Marshfield Area United Way Board of Directors sought to address the growing needs of the community and Partner Programs by increasing the goal 4.5 percent over funds raised in 2005, to raise more than one million dollars. When this amount was met, the Community Impact Committee (CIC) went back to the recommendations made in 2006.

This supplemental program funding is directed to programs addressing the community’s most critical needs as outlined in Community & Basic Needs, Families & Seniors and Youth Initiatives Impact Areas. Funding will invest in many resources focusing on improving program outcomes and services such as more staff hours for outreach programs, gas vouchers for patients seeking dental care, in addition to vouchers for fresh produce and milk for food pantry participants.

“Because of the generosity of our community in the past two years, we have money to invest back into programs. In addition to our supplemental funding, United Way has approved several grants awarded earlier this month,” said Kim Baltus, executive director.

Evaluating community needs and working towards solutions is a year-round process. Programs submit progress reports with numbers served and any obstacles they are facing. Human service programs and community leaders meet throughout the year to share ideas and discuss community needs and solutions through Vision Councils.

“Serving our community is an ongoing process, and we need to remain aware of the changing needs of our area. We’re fortunate this year to have extra funding available and the CIC plans to meet monthly evaluating needs and making funding recommendations to continue investing in Marshfield area’s success,” said Sarah Krenn, community impact coordinator.

Marshfield Area United Way serves people living and working in the Marshfield area (northern Wood County, areas in Clark County, Spencer and Stratford). To learn more about United Way, get involved or volunteer during the impact process, call 384-9992 or visit marshfieldareaunitedway.org.

Vision Councils connect to impact the Marshfield area

Entry by: Stacey Oelrich, Community Relations Development Coordinator

Last weekend, I went to my friend’s wedding in De Pere. We checked into the hotel, and one of the first things I did was pull out my laptop, pop in my WIFI-wireless card and connect to the hotel’s wireless network.

When I lived in Green Bay, we had a wireless network set up in our apartment. I thought it was absolutely brilliant that I could search for recipes as I was getting ready for supper in the kitchen or sitting outside on our patio to work.

I rarely missed an opportunity to unplug my laptop and wander around the apartment to talk, work or just be connected to all of these opportunities on the Internet.

Networks are important. But computers aren’t the only ones using networks to share information. Networking is a way to advance careers, and they also allow the community to connect.

Sometimes in this busy world of ours it’s hard to take the time to connect. These connections make such a significant difference in our daily lives and at United Way, we think it’s important to find the time to share information, foster relationships and work together to make the community a better place to live and work.

Marshfield Area United Way hosts Vision Councils as a part of our Community Impact Process. They are a gathering of people of all professions coming together to make change because they care about making an impact in our service area.

We ask these residents and professionals to assess needs of each of our Impact Areas, which is then taken to the Community Impact Committee that reviews funding applications of programs serving the community’s needs.

Vision Councils meet throughout the year, so we are able to keep a pulse on our service area’s emerging and priority needs. Each Vision Council focuses on a different Impact Area: Community & Basic Needs, Families & Seniors and Youth Initiatives.

It’s easy to become involved in a Vision Council; you just need an interest in the community to come to the meetings. Everyone’s input and ideas collectively help the group achieve goals, find solutions and go forward on projects that may not have been possible before.

During these meetings everyone shares information about what works, events that might be fun or beneficial, and problems they may have encountered. These leaders know they need accomplish real lasting change, not settle for quick fixes.

The Vision Councils’ setting encourages people to share ideas and talk through issues. This allows participants to see the situation from different perspectives and seek opinions.

We have found in all our technological advances, the good old-fashioned meeting still helps people gather information and build connections. Together, we can do so much more than any one of us can do alone.

Working together to change lives and make the Marshfield area a better place for people to live and work … that’s what matters.

To learn more about Vision Councils and when they meet, call Marshfield Area United Way at 384-9992.