Now is the time to give

Americans are rallying to the aid of countrymen by giving blood, housing, moral support and resources. In New York City, the mass of volunteers is inspiring, even while we cringe at the horrors they witness. In Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Scott City and the surrounding area, the outpouring of support affirms the goodness of our community. Long lines of people have given blood. Fund-raising drives have begun to enable support. Flags fly in front yards, in front of churches, schools, businesses and in windows.

At 11 a.m. today at North Cape County Park, several area organizations including the United Way, Red Cross and Salvation Army will be on hand to talk about how we can do more. The gathering, planned for earlier in the week, was originally to announce the Area Wide United Way's campaign goal for this year. Tuesday's tragic events changed everything.

This morning's events will still focus on the United Way, but it will also be a time of prayer, hymns and coordination of assistance. The ceremony is expected to last 30 to 45 minutes.

Because of the direct assistance that the American Red Cross is providing in New York City and its irreplaceable aid with telecommunications and other support if troops are activated, the Area Wide United Way based in Cape Girardeau and many other United Way chapters across the nation have waived their restriction on the agency from raising money during the last three months of the year.

For those not familiar with how the United Way works, it is an umbrella fund raiser and resource coordinator for dozens of local services that communities desperately need. Many of the larger United Way agencies, like the Red Cross, raise money on their own. But they turn off these efforts in the last quarter so the United Way can appeal directly to communities with a coordinated plan for assistance.

The United Way is one of the best ways to provide charitable donations to our community. Eighty-five percent of the money it raises goes to fill critical local needs. By waiving the restriction on Red Cross fund raising during this usual blackout period, our local United Way board is showing its commitment to supporting one of the most important agencies at work in New York City and Washington.

But this effort will only work if this national emergency can be met without undermining important local needs. It would be a shame if our zeal to donate nationally resulted in less money contributed to local United Way agencies.

This is a time to dig deep into your hearts and souls. Local community needs remain pressing, so please make a commitment to the Area Wide United Way. The United Way will fund 53 programs in 32 agencies in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Scott City and the immediate area with money raised from this year's campaign.

The organizations on the front line in New York City need your support as well. You can do this best by making unrestricted donations to groups like the local Red Cross and Salvation Army, whose organizing boards can then allocate the funds to local and national needs as necessary.

How to donate

You can donate directly by

sending checks to:

United Way

1858 Broadway

Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701

American Red Cross

2430 Myra Drive

Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63703

Salvation Army

P.O. Box 802

Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702