The last time the United Way of the CSRA held its fundraising kickoff at the Bell Auditorium was in August 2019 and much has happened in just three years.
Brittany Burnett, president and CEO of the organization, recounted the events of that luncheon at Friday’s fundraising breakfast, where officials announced a $2.4 million fundraising goal.
Supporters played a game of sorts that day. A box was placed in the middle of the table with different family scenarios and some play money inside. Those gathered at the luncheon were asked to work out the scenario by tallying up their bills in the box and using the play money to cover them. Some groups had to deal with an unexpected emergency that threw off the monthly budget.
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“At the end of the activity, more than half of the room didn’t have enough money to make ends meet,” she said.
Burnett highlighted the work of the United Way over the past three years including its efforts early in the pandemic when the 211-referral line saw calls from people who’d never required help before but because of furloughs and layoffs were experiencing needs.
With the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area, the organizations raised $2 million early in the pandemic and distributed it to help with needs such as rent and paying water and power bills.
Three years later, needs still exist in the community.
Eighteen percent of children under 18 living in the area have some type of food insecurity; 57% of 3- and 4 year-olds are not enrolled in an early development program; and 22% have housing costs that exceed 35 percent of their income, Burnett said.
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The United Way of the CSRA supports 38 programs in 25 charities that help “fill the gaps” people find in their lives, she said.
The fundraising goal is an ambitious one given the recent rising costs of living. The $2.4 million goal is 10.5% higher than what was raised last year at $2.17 million.
But Burnett and other officials believe it’s an achievable one.
After the breakfast, those gathered dispersed to several United Way organization to help with Project Serve. About 250 volunteers were expected to donate more than 1,000 collective hours to assist with projects throughout the area at the Boy Scout camp, the Girl Scout camp, the Masters’ Table Soup Kitchen, Easter Seals and other charities.
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For those who weren’t going to another site, a project was set up in the Bell Auditorium lobby. People could make no-sew blankets that would be distributed to United Way agencies.
Although she hadn’t planned to volunteer, Michelle Haisley lent to expertise to the project. Haisley has made a lot of the blankets, she said and gave pointers on how to tie them after cutting them.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the managing editor of The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
