SOS -- Support Our Services: Local United Fund drive halfway to goal as deadline to give looms

The United Fund of Cherokee County and all of its volunteers continue to work on the 2019 – 2020 campaign.
Campaign Chair Pam Anderson reports, “donations and pledges have been slower to come in this year.”

The goal is $107,000 and about half of that amount has been raised.

“We’re asking our community memners, when making your Christmas gift list, please include the United Fund,” Anderson said. “You can make your gift on our website or send your gift to PO Box 111, Jacksonville, TX 75766.”

This year for the first time, people can give via the web site, www.unitedfundetx.org. Donors can give a one-time gift using their credit card or set up a payment using PayPal. With PayPal, people can setup a recurring donation. United Fund also has a Facebook page now – check it out!

There are four divisions in the local United Fund drive -- Major Division, General Division, Employee Division, and Rusk Division.

The Employee Division has always produced the greatest amount of money raised- a lot of employees giving $1-2 per pay period.

“The donations in that Division are down because the employees are no longer given a paper pledge card but told by their employer to go to a designated computer or kiosk to make their payroll deductions selections,” Fund officials stated. “A lot of employees are simply not making selections to give to the United Fund on these computers or kiosk.”

The agencies included in the 2019-2020 year are American Red Cross, ACCESS, Boy Scouts of America, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), the Cherokee County Child & Family Service Board, the Cherokee County Crisis Center, Christmas Cheer, Texas Ramp Project, East Texas Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse, and the Good Samaritan.

Also, included are HOPE (Helping Others Pursue Enrichment) Inc., the Jacksonville Literacy Council, Living Alternatives, Meals on Wheels, the Salvation Army, Gateway Community Partners, Clothes Closet & More and Packs of Love. All of these organizations serve Cherokee County residents.

“The selected agencies depend heavily on the United Fund for their budget,” Anderson said. “If the money is not raised, the agencies will not receive the full amount they were allocated.”