By KEVIN BOWDEN
Staff Reporter
The giant “thermometers” are up and now all the local United Way needs is a little help filling in the white space.
Each fall, the local United Way agency conducts its annual fund raising campaign and that time is now for Michelle Creswell.
She is the executive director for the local United Way and has been working with her board of directors on coming up with ways to reach the agency’s lofty $75,000 goal.
The agency relies heavily on payroll deductions to reach its goal every year, but the recent loss of Goodyear has had a major impact on United Way’s fund raising.
Still, United Way’s 15-member board of directors is optimistic about its ability to reach the $75,000 goal.
A total of 20 local businesses and industries will be the target of an appeal by United Way volunteers as the agency tries to build up its number of contributors who participate in the payroll deduction program.
A new PowerPoint presentation is being developed and will be used when United Way volunteers speak at local clubs and organizations during the coming weeks.
The public will be able to track United Way’s progress toward its $75,000 goal by watching the “thermometers” that have been placed in downtown Union City’s Merchants Park, at the entrance to Union City’s Walmart and at the corner of Home Street and Reelfoot Avenue.
The local United Way has planned a couple of fund raising events this fall, a tennis tournament scheduled for Oct. 7-9 at the Union City Middle School tennis courts and a four-person golf scramble scheduled for Oct. 20 at Wingfoot Park.
All the money that is raised by the local United Way is distributed to community service agencies that serve Obion County. A total of 23 agencies received United Way funding this year.
The United Way’s fall fund raising campaign will continue through the end of October.
Mrs. Creswell works out of her home as she manages the local United Way. She can be reached on her cell phone at 446-2891.
Staff Reporter Kevin Bowden may be contacted by email at kmbowden@ucmessenger.com.

Published in The Messenger 9.23.11