Let's identify the source of the major problem with local charities. In past years the United Way has assisted greatly with many of our long-established charitable organizations. This year is what I consider as one of the worst support years I have seen since I returned to Morganton in 1991.
Sad to say, it is not just our local United Way that's affected, but the entire national United Way system as misguided and corrupt as some chapters have been.
Let's say you wanted to donate to a particular charitable group and you fill out your forms and have it taken directly out of your account. Be careful. According to the fine print the amount of the donation must be at least $50 per year to be selectively donated to one charity. Otherwise, your money will go into United Way's pot to put where it wants, not to your intended charity.
Lately, if you read between the lines of their own announcements, the United Way has announced their intent to do what they want their way. Consider this quote: "The United Way, as an agency itself, is involved in several new initiatives..." Guess where the funding is coming from? From the many other local charity agencies that need financial support, but are only receiving chump change, to make it appear that United Way is giving something.
United Way, here is some advertising for you. Folks, do you know about the national 211 system? Not many do, but our local United Way group has joined the program in the form of about $50,000 a year of our local charity money. Keep our local donated dollars local; don't send it out of our community.
I believe our current local United Way managers have lost sight of their intended purpose. Not to work for an out-of-town management firm on the national level, but to help those in need in the local community by partnering with established charitable organizations.
Folks, put your money where it will help the most. Send it directly to the charity of your choice and knock out the middleman and the large cut they take out of our local economy.
Editor's note: The 211 system is a nationwide program designed to help people find community health and human service resources they need in their communities. Burke County United Way received a $5,000 grant from the Department of Social Services to join 211. United Way also pays $416 per month for the telephone lines connected with the service. Most of the remaining $40,000 of the $50,000 to which Tubergen refers pays for local staff time to add, update and maintain on-line information about all of the social services in Burke County and to answer 211 telephone calls on a 24/7/365 basis. The staff can answer many questions directly or refer callers to the appropriate organizations and agencies. Burke County United Way soon, if it hasn't already, will add information and referral service to programs available through the Burke County schools. In times of emergency, 211 can tell local people about shelters, relief services, etc.
You can decide for yourself whether 211 is a worthwhile expenditure of Burke County United Way's dollars, just as you can and should decide for yourself whether you want to make contributions to United Way or to send donations directly to individual charities, as Mr. Tubergen suggests.
Personal associations in my private life don't affect how I edit this newspaper, but in this instance I feel I owe you, our readers, full disclosure. My wife and I have supported and contributed money to the United Way or United Fund wherever we've lived for more than 25 years, except for one year when I was unemployed. I'm not involved with the operations or leadership of Burke County United Way, but I donate to our local United Way and believe in its mission.
Steve Welker, managing editor
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