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Pike
United Way Funds Provide a Helping Hand
The Pike United Way allocates funding to various
human service programs supporting Pike County. Funding to agencies
outside of Pike County are used only to support efforts in the county.
There are many facts, figures and stories about how these funds help
people and make a difference in our community.
Below are just some highlights from previous years:
A former client told Survivors' Resources, "I had no
self-esteem and felt ashamed of myself and my body. You gave me the
understanding that what happened to me was not my fault. I'm going to
college now; something I couldn't do before because I didn't want other
people to see me."
The Center for Developmental Disabilities of Pike
County was able to provide educational, therapeutic and behavioral
services to over 120 children with developmental disabilities and their
families.
The American Red Cross provided assistance to 5
families with 13 adults and 8 children in Pike County that suffered
single family fires and lost thier home and belongings.
A client of GAIT wrote the Pike United Way and said
"It's a wonderful experience to share some of the problems I have in
raising two handicapped children with others. Its great to have a
network of people to understand and help you through some of the things
we all share."
The Devereux Foundation - Pocono Center was able to
provide in-home support for 12 Pike County residents enabling them to
remain in their home and community. Without these services, they would
have needed institutional care.
The Volunteer Action Cener of Northeast
Pennsylvania provided services for 26 children in Pike County.
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Since 2000, the Pike United Way has allocated a
total of $769,000 to various organizations to support human services
programs exclusively in Pike County.
Allocations
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Pike
United Way Initatives Impact the Community
In addition to allocating funds, the Pike United
Way is also a primary service provider for various human services
programs in the county which have a direct impact in our community.
Here is a list of our primary impact areas and
programs.
Day of Caring
An annual, community event rallying a couple
hundred volunteers to complete hands-on projects to benefit nonprofit
agencies and their clients in Pike County. Individuals from the
community and teams from local businesses and organizations give time
and services for this one-day event with long-lasting impact throughout
our community. The Pike United Way started the Day of Caring in 2001.
This event is also supported by Delaware Valley Schools, Pike County
Commissioners, Pike County Chamber of Commerce, Dime Bank, Woodloch,
PP&L, American Red Cross- Wayne/Pike Chapter, Pike County
Public Library and many local businesses and organizations.
The 10th Annual Day of Caring is in September, 2010.
More
Information
| For the
Day of Caring in 2009, a total of 334 volunteers helped 14 nonprofit
and human services agencies for over a total of 1,700 hours. The
estimated dollar value for this volunteer time is over $34,000. |
Pike County Volunteer Corps
The Pike County Volunteer Corps started in January
2004 as an initiative of Pike United Way. The Volunteer Corps is
dedicated to bringing together organizations that need volunteers and
people who are looking for a meaningful volunteer experience. The
Volunteer Corps is made up of members from various organizations
including the Interagency Council and also works with the Information
and Referral System Committee of the Pike United Way.
The Volunteer Corps are the county organizers for
the annual National Volunteer Week in April. They also publish the
Volunteer Honor Roll annually as a salute to ALL volunteers in Pike
County. The Honor Roll and had 3500 volunteers listed last year.
Volunteer efforts are valuable and important for
the success of most nonprofit human service agencies. Volunteers are
used for administrative support, coordinating activities, fundraising,
hands on help and so much more. The estimated dollar value of volunteer
time in 2005 was $17.06 per hour for the state of Pennsylvania (Source:
"Value of Volunteer Time" from Independent
Sector).
More
Information
9/11 Memorial Blood Drive
An annual event to memorialize the victims and
survivors of 9/11 by giving blood, the Gift of Life, to others in need.
The Memorial Blood Drive started in 2003 as an initiative of the Pike
United Way and is part of our Day of Caring. This event is also
supported by the American Red Cross, Pike County Public Library,
Delaware Valley Schools, Wallenpaupack Area High School, Pike County
Commissioners, Pike County Chamber of Commerce, Dime Bank, Woodloch,
PP&L and many local businesses and organizations..
The 8th Annual 9/11 Memorial Blood Drive is during
the Day of Caring in September, 2010.
Red Cross Blood Drive Schedule
More
Information
| The 9/11
Blood Drives have collected a total of 678 usable pints of blood to
date and this has helped over 2,034 patients. For the Blood Drive in
2009, a total of 100 pints of blood were donated. |
Pike County Information & Referral System -
www.PikePaHelp.org
The I & R System is a program of the Pike
United Way and works to develop information & referral system
infrastructure in the county to assist residents in finding the
essential human and community services that are available to them. This
effort is also supported by a Monroe/Pike Community Block Grant and the
Pike County Human Services Development Fund from 2004-2009. Also
supported by the AmeriCorps*Volunteer In-Service To America (VISTA)
program in 2002-2004 and 2007.
The program includes PikePaHelp.org - a
FREE comprehensive on-line database of government, nonprofit and
not-for-profit organizations that provide human, health, public,
community or other essential services to Pike County residents. The
website also includes a listing a volunteer and job opportunities and a
community calendar of events. The website was launched in August 2003.
PikePaHelp Site Trends (PDF)
September 2008 to Present
June 2006 to July 2008
August 2003 to May 2006
Note:
Website trends were altered by server changes in June 2006 and
September 2008.
The Community Services Directory is a printed
version of the database and it can be download here. The Directory was
provided to schools, county agencies, libraries, most churches and
other organizations.
Human Services Brochure
Community Services Directory
More
Information
| There
are over 200 page views a day on www.PikePaHelp.org helping people find
needed services in the county and helping other agencies refer their
cleints to other services. |
Pike County Emergency Reserve Fund of $20,000
A fund of $20,000 is set aside for community-wide
emergencies and disasters. The fund is replenished after it is used so
these moneys are available when needed. The fund was established in
June 2001 and has been used as follows:
$2,500 - Wayne Pike Chapter of the American Red
Cross in 2006 for flood disasters relief to the people in Pike County
for rescue, emergency shelter, food, clean-up kits, and much more.
$5,000 - Wayne Pike Chapter of the American Red
Cross in 2005 for flood disasters relief to the people in Pike County
for rescue, emergency shelter, food, clean-up kits, and much more.
$3,301 - Camp Speers-Eljabar YMCA in 2001 for
relief efforts associated the World Trade Center disaster. The camp was
asked by the National Relief Network and Pike County to provide lodging
for almost 500 disaster relief workers so they could commute daily to
New York for several weeks to work at Ground Zero. The camp was the
only organization in Pike capable of housing such a large group.
Further inquires may be made at the Pike United Way
office.
Pike County Community Ramp Fund
A fund initiated in August 2002 by a partnership
between the Pike United Way, Habitat for Humanity, the Lords Valley
Rotary Club and a local anonymous donor as a way to get wheelchair
ramps to people who need them in Pike County. People who get the ramps
promise to pay the fund back, as best they can, so there will always be
enough money in the fund for the next person in need. A ramp seems like
a small thing but it brings freedom to those that need them. Applicants
are referred to Habitat for Humanity of Pike County.
Pike County Family Community Expo
A multi-organization effort to promote our Pike
County Community and the services available to Pike County residents of
all ages. This free event started in 2003 and is usually held in May.
The expo features interactive educational and promotional exhibits from
non-profit organizations, county agencies, health care providers, child
care providers, family friendly businesses along with local
entertainment by school choirs, local dance groups, karate clubs, area
musicians and more.
Pike County Family Community Expo Committee: Pike
United Way, Camp Speers-Eljabar YMCA, Child Care Information Services
of Pike County, Early Care & Education Coalition of Pike
County, PA Department of Health, PA Department of Public Welfare, Penn
State Cooperation Extension, Pike County Area Agency on Aging, Pike
County Tobacco Free Coalition.
Further inquires may be made at the Pike United Way
office.
Partnered Programs with Local Corporations and
Organizations (e.g., Holiday Food Drive)
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