A united effort

The United Way of Southeast Missouri has been going through a transformation process in the last few years. Many of the agencies supported by United Way have strong fund-raising arms of their own, but United Way provides a convenient way for workers to support those agencies through payroll-deduction contributions, many of which are matched by employers.

But the role of United Way simply as a contribution conduit for the groups that provide needed services to the community is shifting. Now the United Way here, following the organization's national model, is positioning itself as a big-picture problem solver. Communitywide issues such as public transportation, homelessness, at-risk children and families seeking self-sufficiency are broad needs that can be addressed by many agencies or through special efforts that require seed money or start-up funding.

By taking on the role of determining which problems need to be addressed, United Way is quickly becoming a vital player in the blend of public and private efforts to make communities stronger and help those who live in those communities.

Soon, the United Way of Southeast Missouri will be announcing its fund-raising campaign goal for the coming year. This area has been blessed with the generosity of individuals, groups and businesses in meeting annual goals. With its broad-shouldered involvement, United Way will make a significant impact thanks to that generosity