To the editor:

Upon completing my college degree and obtaining my first job in Marshall, I realized that I wanted to give back to my community.  When I first heard about the United Way I knew what a wonderful organization it was and all the different people it helped, plus the money stays in your community.

In 2017, I was honored with the opportunity to join the United Way of Southwest Minnesota (UWSWMN) board.  I had made donations and helped run my workplace campaigns for UWSWMN because I knew it was a wonderful organization helping many people in our area, and specifically, because the money stayed in our communities.  I was proud to see from the very first meeting I attended that the UWSWMN staff and board of directors were there to help make sure every dollar that donors gave was distributed locally, to improve lives in southwest Minnesota in the areas of: health, education, financial stability, hunger, as well as safety and well-being.

The United Way of Southwest Minnesota initiatives, community partner programs and partnerships will serve 52,600 local people in 2019-2020. This year we have a campaign goal of $600,000 and we want everyone to know that no matter the size of your donation it will impact your community in a BIG way.

To make a contribution or learn more about your local United Way, please visit www.UnitedWaySWMN.org. Also, please check the daily happenings from the UWSWMN by liking their social media pages: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Donations can be mailed directly to UWSWMN PO Box 41, Marshall, MN 56258 or you can donate directly online.

Michelle Doeling

Marshall

Michelle Doeling is a United Way of Southwest

Minnesota board member and resource development chair