Werewolves and Where's your Pledge?

Chauncey and I have been talking about what it will take to get about 80 more people to make a pledge, sign up for payroll deduction or make a one-time gift to the United Way of Chittenden County, another United Way in Vermont or a specific agency.

We’ve tried puppies, heart-wrenching stories, even conjured up signs of nature that you should give to United Way.
We’ve enticed you with incentives like an iPad, vacation money, and gift certificates. We’re down to scare tactics as Halloween approaches. (see above)

We even tried actually talking about the real needs in our community and how if everyone would just give a little, we could do so much more together than alone.

It’s difficult to figure out what motivates people to give to one cause and ignore another. Personal preference or connections play such a major role in our giving habits – if you have experienced hardship or know someone who has, you are probably more likely to give to help a homeless family or donate clothes to a winter jacket collection.

If you have children at home that have never experienced hunger or the ache of going to bed with an empty belly, then I bet you might be more likely to donate to the food drives just because you are grateful for your situation and can’t imagine what that must be like for a parent forced to choose between heat and food for their family.

Maybe you have taken care of an aging parent or family member and were relieved by help from a Visiting Nurse or the caring people at Respite House. I know you would help them if they asked directly. Who wouldn’t?

You don’t have to look very far these days to see someone in need. We’ve all seen the power of working together in the weeks following tropical storm Irene. Roads are back, people are returning to their homes, businesses are coming back to life. That all happened because of a cooperative effort. We can’t all be Phish or Grace Potter and raise thousands of dollars on talent and goodwill. But because everyone gave a little something to help in the face of great need for Vermont – time, energy, material goods or money, we are getting through it.  

United Way is a cooperative effort that makes sure people who need food get it;  kids and families who need shelter have a place to go; and seniors get to stay in their homes and be independent for as long as possible.  It happens because of your gift to United Way. It’s your choice to participate. Chauncey and I don’t know who gives or who doesn’t. If you look at your own situation and decide that you can share some of your good fortune with others that would be great. It’s my experience that often times it is those with limited resources who dig the deepest to help another person.

In theory, we were planning to end the Champlain Campaign tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 26, but it looks like we are going to have to extend it a few more days unless $11,500 shows up overnight or 80 people suddenly turn in their pledge cards by the end of the day.

Here’s where we stand at the moment - 112 pledges totaling $23,679  which is 32% participation.  

But don’t think Chauncey and I are discouraged. We know some of you have been meaning to do it and just got busy. Or you lost your pledge card. Or you are new to the area and no has taken the time to explain that we have a great United Way that maximizes your gifts for the best results. They raised $4 million last year and hope to do it again this year. And the overall needs are greater this year.

We still have some great prizes to give away if that motivates you to give, but deep down Chauncey and I are hoping you will do it because it really makes all of our lives better if we help one another through the hard times of life.

Thank you for your support and for reading all the way to the end!

And if you have already given, thank you again for getting us this far.