Bruce Jewett: United Way needs help now more than ever

'Could we afford swimming pools for kids?'
6/24/11
Thumbs up to beautiful homes
6/24/11
Charles Krauthammer: U.S. needs a new way to decide when we’re at war
6/24/11
Treasurer: ‘County finances can be rather complex’
6/24/11
'He's right on target'
6/20/11
> More opinion headlines

12:47 PM Friday, November 13, 2009

In 1919, Woodrow Wilson was president of the United States, World War I had recently ended, the Cincinnati Redlegs were world champions, and the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution — prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages — was ratified. The national unemployment rate was 1.4 percent, a first-class stamp cost 2 cents, and total federal spending was $18.49 billion.

In 1919, Butler County had a population of just under 87,000, and a small group of civic-minded men (yes, they were all men) in Hamilton founded what would become the Butler County United Way.

For the 90 years since, the Butler County United Way has been connecting community resources with the critical needs of the communities it serves. Countless volunteers have been connected, including myself, and more than $77 million has been invested by our communities’ members to improve people’s lives.

Of these 90 years, only a handful have been as challenging as the current one, in terms of meeting the increased needs of the community. As a public employee charged with overseeing the department that administers state and federal programs for the benefit of our citizens in deepest need, I can tell you that we have never had so many people seeking help.

Our food assistance case load has increased by more than 40 percent this year alone. One person out of every 10 in Butler County is receiving food assistance through the Department of Job and Family Services. At the same time, area food pantries are seeing record demand.

Parents who have rarely been challenged in providing for their families are finding themselves unable to do so, because their jobs have disappeared. They find themselves in need of food, perhaps training so they can find a new job, and help in dealing with the increasing stresses of their current situation. We owe it to those neighbors — and the very strength of our communities — to find the resources necessary to help.

And those resources exist within our communities. While this is certainly the wrong time to be asking people to give more, it is absolutely the right time to be asking more people to give. If each of Butler County’s 350,000 residents would contribute only $20, we could raise $7 million to address the needs we have.

What can you do to be a part of the solution? You can send a check. If you run a business, you can learn how to conduct an employee campaign — and you can match the gifts your employees make. If you work for an employer that doesn’t run a campaign, you can ask your employer to run a campaign to help your neighbors. You can volunteer with United Way or one of the 54 programs it supports.

Please call (513) 863-0800 or visit www.bc-unitedway.org, and make a positive difference, just as Butler County United Way has done for 90 years.

Bruce E. Jewett, director of the Butler County Department of Job and Family Services, is board chairman for the Butler County United Way.

Share this article