As 2020 ends, United Way of Central Kansas glanced back on where the COVID-19-riddled year started, how it ended, and all challenges in between.
“Though we social distanced, we came together,” UWCK Executive Director Gaila Demel said. “Though we Zoomed, we stayed connected. Though we wore masks, we still smiled.”
She said she is “truly inspired” by all those in our community who stepped up. “Our 22 community partners and their clients kept us motivated to keep moving forward, finding new ways to fund raise to ensure that the needs of our neighbors are met.”
Demel also thanked her Board of Directors and volunteers who are continually asking for more ways to help, and her donors for their generosity.
“They saw the need and made the effort to be a part of the solution.”
She offered this recap of the past 12 months.
• In January, UWCK hosted Reality U in Ellinwood, with students from eight area schools attending. More than 200 students went through the simulation of real-world budgeting. They also got a crash course on the cost of bill delinquency and on reality after high school.
• In February, they were still able to deliver Boxes of Love to homebound seniors in Barton and Pawnee counties. More than 200 seniors received homemade Valentine’s Day cards from children, along with some fun items to show them they are loved and important.
This will be taking place again in 2021.
• In March, United Way planned to introduce a new program for high school seniors, called #RealWorld, scheduled for the week after spring break. But it didn’t happen.
“That was the first hit that really hurt,” Demel said. “But we are working to make it happen in 2021.”
• During the spring, UWCK partnered with Eagle Communications and the Robert and Patricia Schmidt Foundation to raise funds for pandemic relief. The partnership raised $13,000, every penny of which was donated to UWCK’s partner agencies.
• UWCK also partnered with Kansas Gas Service and Wheatland Electric to distribute more than 100 hand sanitizer stations in public spaces throughout Barton and Pawnee counties.
• They collaborated with the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and Golden Belt Community Foundation for #BartonStrong. This project raised more than $20,000 for agencies on the pandemic frontlines, while encouraging community members to shop local.
• “With the cancellation of our annual Kickoff, UWCK held a No Show Gala, encouraging former attendees of our Kickoff Event to donate the same as they would have had we been able to hold an in-person event,” she said. While not the same, it was still successful.
• “July brought about our annual Stuff the Bus event,” she said. They collected food items, hygiene necessities and cleaning products for the community partners to distribute to their clients.
“Though donations were down from prior years, we were impressed by the generosity considering the circumstances that many were facing in their own lives,” she said.
• In August, they engaged with volunteers to prepare Literacy Kits for pre-K children and kindergartners. Sponsors of these kits are Midwest Energy and Office Products Inc. These Literacy Kits were delivered to schools in September, and included flashcards, worksheets, crayons and more.
• “This fall, we also announced a new event to support UWCK,” Demel said. But, “we also announced its cancellation.”
Though they were not able to host their Beef & Brew event, plans are already underway for 2021. “Thanks to amazing sponsors, who were willing to think outside the box, we created event shirts, for an event that didn’t even happen.”
• In October, UWCK partnered with Barton County Young Professionals to raise funds to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. With support of the business community, foundations, and individuals who see the value of getting books in the hands of children, $22,000 was raised to continue this program. The annual campaign typically runs from August through December. The goal for the 2021 drive is $275,000.
For more information, visit www.uwck.org or call 620-792-2403.
