LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Why the United Way?

Why should I give to the United Way when I can just give directly to the organization I want to support? That’s a good question, and you can do that, and we do appreciate it. But here’s why it’s also important to give to the United Way of Door County. 

It doesn’t just fund local organizations – it also provides educational and networking opportunities for local nonprofit agencies so that the agencies can work together to provide all of the resource information that a person or family may need. In addition, the United Way researches the needs of our community and uses creative problem-solving to arrive at solutions for addressing those needs. 

Once a resulting nonprofit is established, the United Way is there to advise it, to help make sure the organization is successful.

For example, in Door County, without the work and guidance of the United Way, we would not have these services implemented in our community: Door-Tran, STRIDE (a program that provides access to quality mental-health treatment for Door County youth), the Door County Food Pantry Coalition, Boys and Girls Club, DCMC Dental Clinic (for our lower-income population) and Door County Partnership for Children & Families, among others.

So thank you for giving to the charities of your choice. But please also consider a donation to the United Way of Door County, which relies on contributions from individuals for 70% of its funding, so that it can continue to support and create the services that many in our communities rely on. 

Send your contribution to United Way of Door County, P.O. Box 223, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235. You will be contributing to the long-term health of your community.

Jane Wise

Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin