UNITED WAY KICKS OFF MISSION POSSIBLE

Welcome to Mission Possible. Like the popular TV show of the 1960s but with a positive twist, the Area Wide United Way hopes to beat all odds and complete a successful mission, its annual fund-raising campaign.

What makes this year's drive all the more challenging is the record goal of $550,000.

This campaign comes on the heels of a winning 1996 drive. Volunteers collected $534,022 last year, well above the $520,000 goal.

More than half a million dollars is a generous goal. But for a region that includes Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City, the goal is simply not beyond reach.

United Way was established as a way to give one time for many charities. Over the years, a number of these charities have developed extensive fund drives of their own as well, because United Way dollars weren't enough. Maybe one day this won't be necessary if the United Way goal is sufficient.

But United Way still remains a first-rate bargain. One donation aids 24 agencies and programs. Where else can your gift go so far?

Your donation will help these worthwhile causes:

American Red Cross, Association for Retarded Citizens, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, cancer research at both Cape Girardeau hospitals, Cape County 4-H Council, Cape Senior Center, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Easter Seal Society, the FISH food pantry, Gibson Recovery Center, Habitat for Humanity, Hoover Eldercare Center, Jackson Ministerial Alliance, Jackson R-2 Children's Fund, Jackson Senior Center, Lutheran Family and Children's Services, Radio Information Service for the handicapped, Safe House for Women and the Salvation Army.

If that's not enough to catch your breath, add four new agencies this year: APPLE, which helps senior citizens with their government forms and other paperwork; the Cape Girardeau Civic Center; Retired Seniors Volunteer Program; and SADI, the SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence. The United Way also awarded $20,000 in one-time grants last year.

United Way can also make your donation relatively painless. Many businesses offer payroll deduction, which means a few dollars can be taken out of each paycheck. By the end of the year, the dollars will really add up.

United Way remains a bargain in that most of the money raised goes to the agencies. Local administrative costs are kept low.

The secret to reaching this year's goal will be generous people willing to help their neighbors in need. Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City residents are charitable. We've seen that generosity time and time again through YELL literacy effort and other campaigns.

But this year's United Way drive will both challenge faithful benefactors to reach a little deeper, and extend its message to new community angels.

Give not because you have to, but because it feels good.