This year’s theme? What if .

Monday, August 27, 2001

This year’s theme? What if … "What if everybody gave $1 more a month?" said United Way community coordinator Sarah Ball. "It’s more than a slogan; it will be a big help."

That’s because the agency’s fund-raising campaign this year will see an estimated loss between $80,000 and $83,000 because of the recent downturn in the economy, Ms. Ball said Friday at the United Way’s kickoff in Lawrence County.

The kickoff began with a classic car show – courtesy of the River Cities Corvette and Chevy Club – and a United Way agency fair, the second such community event for the United Way.

Spectators came to see the cars and tour displays set up by the various non-profit agencies assisted by United Way funds, such as the Girl Scouts, City Welfare Mission, Chesapeake Community Center and the Well Child Clinic.

Volunteers hope to reach their goal of raising $150,000 in record time, organizers said.

"The people who live and work in Lawrence County understand the need to support our United Way. This is a community that cares and when they see a need, they help that need," said campaign co-chair, Jim Barrett, of Firstar Bank.

Sharon Dixon, a member of the Lawrence County campaign committee as well as the River Cities Corvette and Chevy Club, agreed.

"The way the economy is here, where we’ve lost so many industries if we give that extra few dollars, it will help replace what we’ve lost," Mrs. Dixon said.

The volunteer said she began helping United Way because she believed in its mission to provide for the helping hand agencies of the area.

"And the need doesn’t go down when the economy does, either," she said.

For more information about United Way in Lawrence County, contact Michelle Hanshaw at 532-2700.