United Way Reaches 60 Percent Of Goal

Having reached nearly 60 percent of its goal of $250,000 — a total of almost $150,000 and $10,000 ahead of last year’s pace — the United Way of Lexington-Rockbridge County continues to explore ways to serve the community on a wider scale.

“Donating to United Way is the most efficient and effective way to support a variety of service providers in the Rockbridge area,” said David Dax, executive director.

The fifteen agencies that United Way will support in 2010 from the current campaign are American Red Cross Central Virginia Chapter, Arc of Rockbridge, Blue Ridge Legal Services, Campus Kitchen of Washington and Lee University, Meals for Shut-Ins, Rockbridge Area Free Clinic, Rockbridge Area Occupational Center, Rockbridge Area Relief Association, Rockbridge Area Transportation System, Rockbridge Regional Library, Stonewall Jackson Area Boy Scout Council, Talking Book Center, TAP-Project Pride, Valley Program for Aging Services and Yellow Brick Road Early Learning Center.”

The United Way will be co-host for the third Commission on Poverty gathering at the Maury River Senior Center in Buena Vista Thursday.

“United Way and the Shepherd Program [at W&L] are encouraged to see the sustained commitment to this effort on the part of those who have been attending, especially since United Way’s first community service forum in October of last year and the joint community forum with the Shepherd Program in April of this year,” said Dax. “Because the human needs in our community are so great — especially in these difficult economic and political times — we look forward to some concrete action steps that will result from these gatherings.”

Also, the United Way has been participating in efforts by Rockbridge County to turn the former Natural Bridge High School into a regional sustainability center to enhance the area’s economy.

Anyone who is interested in contributing to United Way’s fall campaign or in volunteering to help it in its community-building efforts should contact Dax at 463-4482 or at ddax@unitedwaylexva.org for more information. Donations and pledges can be sent to UWLRC at P.O. Box 1094 (218 S. Main St.), Lexington, VA 24450.

This is part of the November 11, 2009 online edition of The News-Gazette.

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