At Ada Regional United Way they know a little bit goes a long way when everyone jumps on board for a good cause. Through donations and selfless volunteers, and with creative resource management, they help provide agencies with the tools they need to meet their community’s needs. One dollar at a time, one person at a time, they strive to make Ada and the surrounding areas a better place to live.
The community-run organization taps into state and federal money as it available and combines local donations to invest in agencies that supply health and human services. Volunteers participate in everything from labor to lectures, saving agencies money. Bryant hopes to see a revival of volunteerism, the backbone of any non-profit organization and a community’s key to survival in tough times. “We used to have tons of people show up for events and even though people are still volunteering, we’re seeing the same twenty people. We want to see the next generation catch on to this,” said Latricia Bryant, Executive Director of Ada Regional United Way.
Times were tough this year for the organization. A slower retail marketplace means decreased tax revenue and budget cuts, hitting agencies hard who are trying to keep up with the increased demand on their resources. “Not only are businesses and families hit by the economy but we’re hit too because contributions went down. If we don’t meet our financial goals it’s really sad because we don’t keep that money. We give it to the agencies that need it to provide services for their clients,” said Bryant.
Each year agencies apply for funding from the annual United Way campaign. They set a yearly goal to raise money that will fund those agencies the following year. Out of the money United Way raises, ninety-nine percent goes back into the community and the remaining one percent is paid to United Way of America. Having a local board makes it easier to find efficient solutions and resources while simplifying their evaluation of an agency’s needs and how it can help the community.
Their goal this year is $250,000 and will benefit youth, children, and senior programs; Ada Habitat for Humanity, Ada Area Chemical Dependency Center, PAWS, Legal Aid, 2-1-1 of Southeastern Oklahoma and more. “By the numbers now it looks like we will be able to give 80% of what these agencies requested. That’s pretty good especially these days,” said Bryant.
Although they were forced to lower their financial goal this year, some businesses have stepped it up. Vision Bank matched their employees’ contributions dollar for dollar. “Citizen’s Bank employee and corporate donations exceeded what they gave last year; Cable One’s total jumped by thirty percent this year. Times are tough but I think people are realizing, ‘I can give a little bit to United Way and if there are twenty five of us giving a little bit, it’s going to make a bigger difference than if I give ten dollars to one agency.’”
Several hundred employees from Valley View Regional Hospital gave just one dollar out of their paychecks for twenty six weeks. “Twenty six dollars isn’t much but when you have several hundred employees it makes a huge difference,” said Bryant.
Where is that money going? According to Bryant they’re not just giving a hand out but they’re taking things to a level of change. “The youth programs we fund provide activities for youth but they’re also teaching them to be volunteers, to be productive members of society, to stay away from drugs. That is so important to our community. We hosted the largest site for the Crystal Darkness in the state, not only because of United Way but the community really got involved. We have a huge substance abuse problem here and I expect to see the Crystal Darkness program grow next year.”
Plans are also under way to get to the root of recurring problems. According to data generated by 2-1-1 of Southeastern Oklahoma, an information and human services referral agency, the two highest requests are for food and utility assistance, followed by housing and health. “If someone needs food assistance every month, we need to find out why. Do they have a job? Are they housing another family who doesn’t contribute to the food and utilities? We can help them find a job or learn a new skill, maybe help by weatherizing the home to lower the utilities.”
Bryant hopes to see a better turnout next year for volunteers and since posting news on Facebook and MySpace, interest is growing. Schools are also encouraging volunteerism and ECU faithfully promotes employee contributions and student involvement Ada United Way. “I think it’s great local schools have implemented the requirement to volunteer but I hate that it’s come to that. My two daughters grew up like I did; you grow up with parents who modeled that. I see them now doing things in their communities and they don’t even think about it. It’s like breathing to them.”
In December when volunteerism is more common, Bryant encouraged people to keep the Christmas spirit alive year round. “You don’t have to wait until Christmas to volunteer. You can do it every day. A lot of people don’t think about people in need until Christmas time. It’s sad when people don’t have a Christmas tree but they also don’t have food the rest of the year either.”
Ada Regional United Way hopes to see a more united community, not only in the spirit of Christmas but in that do-or-die Oklahoma Spirit. Their motto, “Give, Volunteer, Advocate,” is nothing new to Oklahomans or Ada.
