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Local News

Barry County United Way 2018 officially underway

The Barry County United Way held its 2018 Campaign and Day of Caring kick-off last week, a rally filled with enthusiasm followed by volunteers fanning out across the county tackling all types of improvement projects and marking the official start of the year’s fund raising for the United Way.

 

 

 

BCUW executive director Lani Forbes, who has attended similar events for 20 years, emceed the event with the theme, Live United: Be the One. One person can change a life. She told the story of “Patricia” that showed how all-encompassing the United Way assistance can be and the way just one person can trigger help that changes lives.

 

“Please consider how you can be the one. It takes a little from all of us. One dollar can purchase six meals. Two dollars and 32 cents per month can place a book in the mailbox of a three-year-old.  “This year, based on the needs of the partner agencies and programs, the goal is $625,000. We have many that have stepped forward as pacesetters to kick this off. As of this morning these pacesetters are kicking us off with $123,979.89,” Forbes said.

 

“The 34- member board directors of the Barry County United Way work diligently to make sure the needs of the community are met and that we are living our mission of improving lives by mobilizing the caring power of Barry County communities.

 

“Last year contributions of $628,000 turned into $1.8 million invested back into the community through matching grants, volunteer hours and gifts in kind.

“We hit a milestone in August the BCUW reached a milestone of providing more than $1million dollars in utility assistance. The BCUW had more than 2,493 volunteers impacting every aspect of our community.

 

“Florence Tyden lives on in the administrative endowment fund at the Barry Community Foundation ensuring that 100 percent of contributions go directly to programming,” she said. The Andy and Kristen Cove family served as campaign chairs this year, the prayer was offered by Reverend Linnea Stifler and the Thornapple Kellogg High School Band kept an upbeat tempo to the kickoff.

 

 

Photos: The BCUW staff ffrom left,Courtney Ziny, Ally Owen, Emily Blocher, Morgan Johnson, June Behrendt, Lani Forbes, Devin Hamlin, Pattrick JansensCourtney Ziny, Ally Owen, Emily Blocher, Morgan Johnson, June Behrendt, Lani Forbes, Devin Hamlin and Pattrick Jansens  pose for a photo at the campaign and Day of Caring kickoff.

(photo by Lyn Briel)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Volunteers Josh Wooden, (left) team leader, and Carl Swanson start the cement repairs to the Shack in Delton.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Volunteers Dave Hard (front) and Roy A. Stadel throw cement pieces into the truck. New cement blocks improved the Shack’s exterior during Day of Caring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Thornapple Kellogg High School volunteers,Kara Burbridge and Anna Benedict, clean up a landscape area for a homeowner. (photo by Lyn Briel)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carl Swanson, gets the metal saw to cut out an old air conditioner from the building in Delton.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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