by Ken Toll
What a difference a year makes!
Last November, I posted a blog titled, “Why Every Day is #GivingTuesday.” In this lead-up to the annual day of charitable giving, I made this observation: “Modern life is so busy, so complex, with so many daily challenges, that there’s value in having a day where we’re called to stop and think of others.”
If ever Jackson County proved its compassion isn’t limited to a single day, it’s the whole of 2020.
In the face of a global pandemic, an economic downturn and so much more, you showed what makes this community great.
You gave more than $357,000 to support COVID-19 relief efforts.
You volunteered your time to deliver hundreds of thousands of household essentials.
You stepped up to help us set up food boxes and deliver over a million pounds of food to those in need.
You did your part to make sure homeless people had a safe place to sleep and shelter in place.
You joined us in celebrating front-line workers, from health care staff and first responders to grocery store employees and others who continue to work through the pandemic.
And crucially, you affirmed United Way’s continuing work to help people build pathways to financial stability—from partnering on financial management tools to maintaining your support so we can invest in meaningful partnerships and programs.
All of that, and so much more, is worth celebrating. So we’ve declared Nov. 30-Dec. 4 to be #JacksonWeGotThis Week.
Stop by our website or social media this week, and you’ll see stories and examples of how United Way and the entire Jackson County community came together to make sure every person got the help they needed in the face of COVID-19.
That work, of course, is continuing—and we still need your help. As I said last year, every day is Giving Tuesday … yet, on that particular day, I ask that you consider investing in United Way. We’re still working hard to build a financially stable community even as we strive together with partners to tackle immediate needs. United Way was built for this!
Jackson County sets the standard for how lives can be transformed when we LIVE UNITED. All of us at United Way are grateful for your support as we look at the next step: recovery, rebuilding, and addressing the needs of today and tomorrow.
Please consider a financial gift to United Way. Click here to donate.