Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

United Way Sets Goal For $180,000

Clark County's United Way campaign is getting underway with a goal this year of $180,000.

Gurdon's portion of this should be about $35,000, according to Dr. Bob Houston, vice president of academic affairs at Henderson State University and chairman of this year's UW drive.

The UW, he said, used to be commercials seen during Sunday afternoon football games on television.

This, though, changed. When Dr. Houston got involved with the Clark County UW campaign about four years ago, he was surprised at the kind of support the UW agencies provided for the county residents.

There are resources, he said, to help almost everyone in need, as well as recreational activities.

Agencies aided by the UW in Clark County include: the American Cancer Society; Courage House; the American Red Cross; Arkadelphia Little League; Arthritis Foundation; Central Arkansas Development Council; the Humane Society of Clark County; Family Enrichment Center; Clark County Youth Development Council; Clark County 4-H; Girl Scouts, Confer and Two Rivers; Group Living; Hours of Joy Child Care; and the Volunteer Council.

He said 92 cents of every dollar donated to the UW remains in Clark County to assist the aforementioned agencies. While there isn't always enough money to go around, the UW, he said, is always looking for more agencies to bring under its umbrella and help as it can.

Gurdon, he said, has a lot of impact on UW agencies in the county, as many local residents take advantage of them.

According to Dr. Houston, 75 meals per day are served at the Gurdon Senior Adult Center; 35 meals on wheels are provided to shut-ins; the SCAT bus made 6,758 trips to Gurdon last year and 205 families are on the commodities program.

In addition, he said, there are 35 children in the Hours of Joy Daycare Center and 465 Gurdon residents were helped by the Red Cross.

"The support offered is staggering," he said. "The UW is working to try and fill many needs. This is done in your community and it's very important."

In Arkadelphia, students at HSU have been challenged by the faculty to see which group can raise the most money during the drive. Students at Ouachita Baptist University have also gotten into the act.

Dr. Houston said members of the UW campaign will be working the Caddo Valley area more this year. There are more than 50 businesses in this community, and many have not been contacted about donating to the UW.

Donations can be made through payroll deductions, he said, with the deductions beginning Jan. 1, 1999.

The goal, though, is to have the campaign wrapped up by the middle of December so budgets can be made for the coming year.