Our Opinion: Believe in a strong finish for United Way journey

News Tribune editorial

Embracing the area United Way's campaign theme song, "Don't Stop Believing," volunteers believe community momentum remains strong.

"I believe the campaign is going very well," said Ann Bax, president of the United Way of Central Missouri. "We still have a lot of things going on," she said, during a brief break from her busy schedule as the campaign draws nearer to its Nov. 3 conclusion.

"I'm optimistic," Bax added. "I want to thank everyone who has been generous in their support so far, but we need to finish strong."

This year's campaign has a $1.825 million goal to support the services of 28 United Way partner agencies and services. Those partners, according to United Way officials "touch more than 88,000 lives" in a service area that includes seven Central Missouri counties - Camden, Cole, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage and southern Callaway.

And those lives are touched in a variety of ways, addressing health, mental health, hunger, nutrition, shelter for the homeless and for victims of domestic violence, youth leadership and advocacy, adult literacy, foster care and adoption services and much more.

Bax said this year's Pacesetters - 30 area businesses that held fundraisers in advance of the campaign kickoff - provided an "incredible start," raising $882,553, which represented 48.3 percent of the goal.

She also said this year's "Rockin' the '80s" motif and theme based on the Journey song helped generate interest and fun for the serious effort to help meet health and human service need in the community.

The success of past campaign demonstrates area residents believe in the caring and compassionate assistance being done each day by United Way partners.

Past news stories have documented cases of people who regained self-sufficiency after receiving temporary assistance from a United Way partner agency. And, in some cases, they now help others as agency volunteers.

Those people didn't stop believing. They maintained hope, that with some caring assistance, their situation would improve.

As this year's campaign enters its final weeks, we join with United Way volunteers in encouraging everyone to share that hope. Don't stop believing.