ENTHUSIASTIC UNITED WAY WORKERS IN PLACE, OFF AND WORKING

With a campaign theme of "Open Your Heart," the 1994 Area Wide United Way drive is now under way. Several hundred volunteers are involved in the effort to raise $520,000 that will be used to benefit 26 agencies that serve residents of Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City.

Ron Hopkins of Commerce Bank, this year's campaign chairman, stressed that the key to a successful drive is enthusiastic volunteers who recognize that these agencies must go on 365 days a year.

"Without a concerted effort by everyone involved in this campaign, there would be no way to attain this goal," said Hopkins.

Hopkins said the volunteers are interested in making their community a better place to live through the efforts of the agencies that receive funds from United Way.

United Way Executive Director Dorothy Klein, who is involved in her 17th drive, points out that efforts from this drive provide only a portion of the funds needed by agencies.

"We wish we could do more, but unfortunately it doesn't work that way. We can't fund everyone entirely," said Klein.

This year's goal is $20,000 higher than the 1993 goal and $14,000 more than what was actually collected last year. Klein said there are occasional years when the United Way falls short of its goal, but every year the drive always takes in more than the previous year.

Funds raised during this year's drive will be allocated in December to be disbursed to agencies in 1995. Klein said funds are allocated after the campaign so the agencies know how much money to count on.

Agencies send the United Way's board of directors a budget form, financial statements, and request a certain amount of money. Klein explained that the board does a needs assessment to determine how much to allocate, and also considers the amount of people in the area served by the agency.

There is one new agency in this year's drive, the FISH Volunteers, which was formed by a group of churches several years ago to meet short term housing, food, transportation and medical needs of people in the community and transients. Last year FISH served more than 1,000 families and 2,900 individuals.

"This is the first time FISH approached us about being a member," said Klein. "They are a good organization and provide the kind of services United Way represents."

More than 200 volunteers are involved in the drive, which started Aug. 31 with the annual kickoff luncheon. Among the volunteers attending was 94-year-old Hugh Logan, who was one of the founders of the Cape Girardeau United Way in 1955.

The United Way operations are directed by a board of directors during the year, and the campaign is directed by a cabinet made up of the chairmen of the five divisions. The chairman of the board is John Mehner.

The largest division is the employee division, where individual employees of larger firms in town are solicited for donations. Many of them pay through payroll deductions throughout the year. Heading employee division efforts are Jeff Bierman and Mike Gantz. The division's goal is $293,000.

In the corporate division, major companies in the area are contacted for contributions, with the hope of reaching a goal of $171,500. Heading up the corporate effort are Sandy Bonner, Sharon Drum and Rick Lambert.

Leading the patron division, which focuses on retired people and small businesses in the area, are Gale Dale, Rozan Bonsignore, Mary Burton and Janet Esicar. The goal of the division is $22,500.

In the professional division, a goal of $22,000 has been established.

The final division is for special events, where funds are raised through projects such as golf and softball tournaments. The goal is $11,000.

Serving under Hopkins as vice chairman this year is Donna Hanschen, and the communications chairman is Jay Wolz.