The United Way of Bryan County had its rally campaign at the Richmond Hill Wetlands Center on Thursday, Sept. 27.
"We’re celebrating the ongoing efforts here in Bryan County to reach the campaign goal that we’ve set this year," said Christy Edwards, program coordinator for United Way 2-1-1, and the guest speaker for the lunch, which was coordinated with the Rotary’s weekly meeting.
"A gift to United Way is an investment in your community here in Bryan County," Edwards said.
Eleven years ago, 2-1-1 started in Atlanta. The Coastal Empire has utilized 2-1-1 since 2001. Located in Savannah, it serves Bryan County and three other coastal counties; Edwards said the program gets about 1,000 calls every month.
"They’re from people who, just like us, may occasionally need a helping hand to make things better for their families, or they have questions, or other family members or their friends who are looking for help and don’t know where to start," she said.
Edwards said 2-1-1 helps give people a starting point, and also fields calls for life’s simpler questions, like who to contact for Poison Control for example.
"Currently, we manage and update a database of over 500 programs and they all provide services to our four-county area; there are a lot of services that are provided here in Bryan County and we love to direct people who call to the help they need," Edwards said.
The program provides help with child care, counseling, domestic violence, employment, housing, shelter and substance abuse, among others. The phone lines are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.. If 2-1-1 can’t be reached from a land line, dial 912-651-7730.
Dell Keith, campaign chairman of the United Way of Bryan County, said the local chapter hopes to raise $70,000 this year, and thinks the Ball Drop fundraiser will help seal the deal on reaching their final goal amount.
"We need your help; your support," he said.
The $10 tickets are available at Bryan Bank & Trust, First Bank of Coastal Georgia, all Savannah Banks, and the United Way offices.
A helicopter will drop numbered golf balls, corresponding to ticket numbers, over the Sterling Links Golf Club in Richmond Hill on Nov. 1, at 4 p.m.
The ball that lands in, or closest to, the designated hole, will win a brand new golf cart donated by Futch’s Auto and Golf Cart Sales of Richmond Hill.
"And our United Way is different than other United Ways, mostly because of the Hershel B. Jenkins trust fund. That trust fund covers all the administrative expenses within our United Way. And what that means to you is – every dollar you donate goes to that charity." Keith said.