United Way 'blitz' keys on small business

For the first time in the history of Nodaway County's annual United Way campaign, volunteers made a specific effort last week to enlist support from retailers and small businesses both downtown and along the South Main Street corridor.

Students from Northwest Missouri State University went door-to-door around the courthouse square on Wednesday asking business owners to pledge or donate to this year's effort, which will help fund 15 local charities, youth organizations and social service agencies.

A similar "Small Business Blitz" was conducted Friday afternoon by Maryville High School Spoofhound football players who fanned along both sides of South Main after meeting for a brief strategy session in the Mary Mart parking lot.

Roger Baker, board president of this year's local United Way initiative, said the door-to-door approach is part of an overall attempt to breathe new life into the drive, which had fallen off somewhat in recent years.

He said the "blitz" idea was modeled on similar efforts conducted in other communities and represented an attempt to extend the campaign's emphasis beyond its traditional backbone of manufacturing plants, the university and other large employers.

The campaign still relies on mass mailings and other media, such as its website at www.nodawayunitedway.org, to reach potential donors. But Baker said the blitz added a new dimension and helped solve the problem of trying to compile an accurate list of small businesses.

He also believes it lent a personal touch to solicitations, which he hopes helped convince people to open their checkbooks for a good cause.

Merchants choosing to contribute last week received Spoofhound green reusable shopping bags. Those giving or pledging at least $50 were also given a United Way T-shirt.

Promotional assistance for the Small Business Blitz was provided by Tri-State Ford Lincoln in Maryville.

On other fronts, Baker said this year's United Way campaign is going well, and that the drive is about halfway to its $105,000 goal with fundraising promotions scheduled to continue into November.

The theme for this year's United Way drive is "Focusing on the Building Blocks of a Good Life." To illustrate how donations will be used, organizers divided the 15 agencies earmarked to receive funding into three categories deemed essential to community betterment: education, health and financial stability.

The education component embraces several youth organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boy and Girl Scouting, 4-H and the Nodaway County Community Building.

United Way "health partners" are: area school nurses, the Children & Family Center domestic abuse shelter, Children's Mercy Hospital, the Health Emergency Lifeline Program and Nodaway County Recreation & Education for Individuals and Adults.

Organizations listed under financial stability include: the Nodaway County Senior Center, the Ministry Center, Second Harvest Community Food Bank, the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities-Northwest Permanent Housing.

To donate to this year's United Way of Nodaway County campaign, go to www.nodawayunitedway.org; email unitedway.nodawaycounty@yahoo.com; or call (660) 562-3910.