The United Way of Colquitt County 2008 campaign has begun and once again we encourage our community to embrace this program which has a proven track record of serving a wide-range of our citizens who might be less fortunate than many of us.

The great majority of the United Way funds stay right here in our community to meet a plethora of social service needs in both preventative and emergency venues. As well, management overhead is low. United Way of Colquitt County is guided by a board of volunteer directors who represent a cross-section of Moultrie and Colquitt County.

This board decides where the funds will be allocated. As well, it holds participating agencies accountable for those funds, requiring details of application and oversight in spending. Funds come from payroll deductions, corporate gifts as well as individual gifts.

United Way grew out of a project many years ago known as Community Chest. It has the advantage of national exposure via advertising campaigns and celebrity endorsements. But even though it’s known as a national charity, it is a local event, locally managed and the funds are locally allocated.

Given that our economy is not in the best shape at the moment, United Way will play an even bigger role this coming year to help meet the needs of the less fortunate.

If you are looking for a cause to support, please consider United Way of Colquitt County. And if you have questions about how the funds are allocated and which agencies receive them or how the board operates, please contact Angela Castellow, United Way of Colquitt County executive director. She can address your concerns or put you in contact with any of the board members. As well, you may want to hear from the agencies themselves on the importance of these contributions.

Again, let us stress that this is local money that is managed and applied locally. The bottom line: It’s a very good cause.