While the pandemic continues to change our lives and the way we do business, the Greene County United Way has found new ways to support the community. Faced with the challenges of social distancing and cancelled events, MaChal Forbes, executive director, and the Greene County United Way team looked to bring fun back to the community and keep non-profit programs operating during COVID-19.
The Greene County United Way (GCUW) was able to help programs in the community by partnering with the Community Foundation of Greene County to distribute an emergency response fund totaling $105,000. This fund helped 24 non-profit agencies keep their programs running during difficult times. Another $40,000 from public donations given to the United Way was used to support 12 local non-profits through their community impact grants. These funds meant the services used to support the public in times of need could continue running their programs through the current financial uncertainties. Many of these agencies have seen a dramatic increase in the number of community members needing assistance, some for the first times in their lives.
Recognizing the community needs fun ways to connect with each other and still practice the social distancing keeping us safe, new events were created to replace those that were cancelled. A “Selfie Scavenger Hunt” was one of those events; it started on September 6, 2020 and runs through October 3, 2020. Donning their GCUW t-shirt, participants decipher a location riddle that leads them to the next destination on the route. Once there, they snap a selfie at the location, earning raffle prize entries for reaching the spot; weekly prizes are awarded. The final celebration for this event will be held on October 3, 2020 via Zoom. Winners will be celebrated, stories shared, and raffle prizes awarded.
“Stuff the Bus” was held again this year. Loads of school items collected for children were given out in preparation for the new school year. This yearly event makes a difference by providing backpacks, notebooks, pens, pencils and more.
October’s main event is the “Mystery Road Rally” on October 24. Open to all types of road vehicles, at a cost of $50/vehicle, entrants are provided with a set of challenges or clues that leads them from one location on the route to the next. At each site, a new set of challenges or clues provide the steps needed to find the next location. There are prizes to win, a Chinese auction and 50/50 raffle to add to the fun.
This is our Greene County United Way working to change lives for the better at a time when it is more critical than ever to help those in need. To find out more about the GCUW and their activities log on to www.greenecountyunitedway.org or give them a call at (724)852-1009.
