UNITED WAY GIVES TOURS OF AGENCIES

Retta Miller believes in angels and in what they represent -- the power that comes from helping others.

Miller, vice president of marketing for Union Planters Bank in Cape Girardeau, is one of 100 people who volunteer time to raise money for the Area Wide United Way. On Wednesday, Miller participated in a tour of four of the 25 local agencies and programs funded by United Way.

"Some people think that the United Way doesn't benefit them," Miller said. "Maybe it doesn't directly, but it does touch someone they know."

She said the tour allowed her to see how locally raised funds are used for local programs.

The places toured -- the Association of Retarded Citizens (ARC), the Cape Senior Center, five homes built locally by Habitat for Humanity and the Salvation Army -- represent the diversity of programs funded by United Way.

"United Way is a good way to do a lot of good to a lot of different types of people with different types of needs," Miller said.

In 1998, the local United Way gave $9,000 to Habitat for Humanity, $10,000 to the Senior Center, $35,000 to ARC and $47,500 to the Salvation Army.

The largest agency funded by United Way in the Cape Girardeau area is the Red Cross, which received $65,000 to help in its work of providing relief to disaster victims and training people how to respond to emergencies.

Last year, United Way topped its $550,000 goal by raising $587,000.

Miller and United Way Executive Director Nancy Jernigan pointed out that locally raised funds are used for local agencies and programs.

Other funded organizations include the Cape County 4-H Council, Easter Seals, Gibson Recovery Center, Safe House for Women and both the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

Jernigan said it isn't United Way's goal to be the only source of income for the agencies and programs, but that the agencies and programs will be able to find new sources of revenue to fund worthwhile projects.

"New needs always pop up," Jernigan said.

Kickoff for the campaign is Sept. 9, at which time Jernigan will announce this year's goal. Jernigan said United Way hopes to reach the goal by mid-November before the year-end holidays, but it isn't always able to do so. Last year the goal was reached in the first part of December. The year before it was February before it was reached.

For Jernigan the important part is that the goal is reached.

In year's past, the kickoff featured a big name from outside who was brought in to encourage participation in United Way. But this year United Way will spotlight the efforts of local people or hometown heroes -- agencies, clients, volunteers and donors who have made a difference. The theme is "The Power of U."

"It exemplifies the power that each one of us has to make a difference in the community," Jernigan said.

"That's what United Way represents," she said.