The following guest column was submitted by Kelly Garrett of United Way of Marion County
Be the ONE. That’s United Way of Marion County’s message again this year. What does it mean? It means that it only takes ONE person to change ONE life. Individually and collectively, our community has the capacity to accept this call to action and be the ONEs to give, advocate and volunteer.
Already this summer, the Marion community is helping children be better prepared for school and more confident learners by donating thousands of books to the Stuff the Bus drive. This drive, in partnership with Marion Public Library and 15 drop off locations, will help put books in the hands of children that might not otherwise have any. Just ONE book can change the life of ONE child.
In the last school year, we expanded the Project MORE (Mentoring in Ohio for Reading Excellence) program at Marion City Schools. Nearly 60 people volunteered to be the ONE to read with third graders at McKinley and George Washington elementary schools. Almost 70 percent of the children we worked with passed their Ohio Achievement Test in reading. Just ONE mentor can change the life of ONE student.
High school students from both Tri-Rivers Career Center and Harding High School experienced what it’s like to step out of their school buildings and give back to the community during the last school year. A total of 45 different service projects were completed between them, and an immeasurable amount of morale was built. ONE day can change the way ONE high school student sees the community.
In the year to come, there is ONE message that a collective of agencies and organizations have committed to rallying around – reading 20 minutes a day to a child from birth through elementary is ONE of the easiest and simplest ways to ensure that a child will succeed in school. ONE person reading with ONE child every day can change that child from a dropout to a graduate.
Without a doubt, there is no way the staff at United Way could ever accomplish so much without the many dedicated and committed volunteers who contribute their time and talent to the organization. Last year, approximately 600 individuals gave more than 1,700 hours serving on the board or other committee, raising and distributing the financial resources or helping us tell our story. ONE by ONE, we are building a stronger community.
Our goal for this year’s campaign is set at $1 million. Last year, we raised close to that amount and will need each ONE of you to help us reach our goal in the year to come.
Thanks to each ONE of you for giving, advocating and volunteering. Your support has been felt deeply at United Way, and your efforts have rippled out to the community.
Thanks to each ONE of you, we’re changing lives in Marion County each and every day.
Kelly Garrett
Assistant Director
United Way of Marion County
About Guest Columnist
