Last year Johnston County residents donated almost $400,000 to United Way of the Greater Triangle. Thier donations help fund health and human services programs that assist people in need living and working in the county, according to Jennifer Bosk, a United Way spokeswoman.
Johnston County has seen an increase in money raised and staying in the county since the county’s United Way office merged with United Way of the Greater Triangle, according to Bosk.
“Most Johnston County area workplace United Way campaigns are now underway and will continue to run through November. If your workplace does not run a campaign, you may contribute by going to www.unitedwaytriangle.org and clicking on the ‘give’ button,” Bosk said.
After the donations come in the next step is to decided how to use that money, according to Keith Dimsdale, chair of the Johnston County Resource Investment Cabinet.
“Since the merger, some people think the decision making for how the dollars are invested is made in Raleigh. That is a misperception we are trying to clear up. Local residents make the decisions for where that money is invested in our county,” Dimsdale said.
Eleven Johnston County volunteers, members of the Johnston County Resource Investment Cabinet of United Way, met recently to decide how to distribute $300,000 of those donations locally while the other $100,000 was pre-designated for specific nonprofit agencies by the donors.
Last year 545 homebound seniors and persons with disabilities received 63,329 meals from the Johnston County Community and Senior Services Agency. A total of 244 volunteers contributed 8,901 hours of service delivering the meals. This program made it possible for 85 percent of the homebound residents to remain independent and stay in their homes.
Also last year, 215 women and children were able to leave violent or abusive households and find shelter at Harbor, Inc. Nearly 175 of the women and children received safe housing, protective orders, financial assistance, legal resources, health related services and other effective assistance to prevent further domestic abuse.
The Boys & Girls Club of Johnston County had 129 at-risk youth participate in their after school program which helped 86 percent of the students advance to the next grade level.
