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United Way is still a strong agency

Mike Gemmell

Published Friday, June 6, 2008

Let me set the record straight about various misconceptions some readers have about the United Way and the Food Pantry.

The excellent article by Mary Hood on June 3 outlined the current status of the Food Pantry run by the United Way. The following is in response to comments posted on The Democrat Web site.

A year and a half ago, the Food Pantry was in dire need of funds and organization. It was transferred from the Ministerial Alliance to the United Way as a temporary measure to keep it alive. Now the Food Pantry is in fine shape and is running well. We feed over 500 families a month. It’s time for a direct service agency to take it over.

The United Way was not set up to run programs. It is an umbrella agency that collects funds for other agencies to use in the delivery of human services. In fact, funds that were used to shore up the Food Pantry were coming out of allocations due next year to the 22 “certified” United Way agencies. It was a drain on our limited resources.

Not only is the Food Pantry viable, so is the United Way. We are strong and functioning well, thanks to our dedicated volunteer board members (some of the most respected leaders in the Miss-Lou) and an outstanding staff.

By the way, the United Way currently has (since Jan. 7) one full-time professional administrative assistant. She has kept the agency running well. We have no outstanding debts and, most importantly, all of our 22 agencies have received funds that were approved by the allocations committee.

Now, a comment in response to a statement online about our employees and their “pocket books getting bigger and bigger.” First, our administrative assistant could double her salary at another outfit but she’s committed to the United Way and its mission: to help individuals and families to stand on their own and to tap the caring strength of the Miss-Lou.

Second, we have three part-timers in the Food Pantry and they make a little over minimum wage. They too are committed and work hard to ensure that over 500 families receive their approved food allotment.

One more thing, as a retired association executive, I devote over 10 volunteer hours a week as chairman of the United Way.

Our past chair, a retired educator, puts in about 20 volunteer hours a week assisting our administrative assistant in the conduct of United Way affairs.

Futhermore, we can add more hours put in by other volunteer board members. All free!

I welcome the public to visit our new offices at 206 N. Canal on Tuesday, June 10 from 3 to 5 p.m. to ask questions about the United Way, in general and the Food Pantry, in particular. I look forward to meeting you in person.

Mike Gemmell is the Chairman of the United Way board.

Comments

Posted by ntz143 (anonymous) on June 6, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

United Way's funding to their agencies have benefited hundreds of men, women, and children in the Miss-Lou. The negative comments that have been posted in previous articles totally disregard the impact that they may be having on funding for these agencies. In some cases, the United Way funding is critical to operate. Former employees who are disgruntled are not reliable sources for what goes on at this agency. My wife works for an agency that receive this funding and her agency would have to reduce services to needy families if their United Way funding was cut. Please think about the impact of the words you write and find out the TRUTH before you comment on it!

Posted by kpage (anonymous) on June 6, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I can understanding dumping the Food Pantry from their list. If this program drains from the other certified agencies, then by all means, dump them. I thought I saw an article recently about how the pantry is running very low. I made several donations. So they are Ok now? Well, now you are justified in dumping them. :[

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on June 6, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Nothing against the United Way, but when I donate, I do so directly to the agency I wish to give to. That way I know my money is going exactly where I want it to.

Posted by kpage (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 8:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey free...I feel the same way. When I win the Publisher's Clearinghouse sweepstakes, I'm going to personally find needy people and give to them. I can think of a few kids who need new coats this winter. I can think of a daddy who needs a part on his car so he can go to work. If I only had the money today to give to the kids whose parents can't afford new school uniforms and supplies.

I was told by a wise being this little morsel I will never forget...In this world, there are givers and takers...which one are you? I just can't imagine my life today looking for something to be given to me. It's more like, what can I give? In the old days, I took so much from this world and today it is time to give back. Unfortunately there are people out there who would laugh in my face for that statement..."who cares what others need...I need, too". I've heard that said so many times but I have to consider the source of the statement...selfish, vain people who'd rather get a tummy tuck or face lift than help a hungry, needy human being.

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

kpage I have to laugh about the tummy tuck. Just recently a "friend" at chuch told me she had to cut back on her tithe because she got a tummy tuck and face life and a few other little things. The woman is 65 years old.

Posted by kpage (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Gosh free! That's like slapping God twice in the face...once for not accepting herself as God's miracle and wanting to change it (saying God is thoughtless)...the second slap is denying Him for vanity's sake (God can wait). You know as well as I do free...God doesn't like that kind of ugly. You know, I've been thinking about this aging thing as I see new wrinkles occasionally. For one, I've EARNED those wrinkles...it's just the way life is..I'm 38 years old and I look it. Who wants to go back to 25? Another thing is that I am happy enough with myself on the inside. A million dollars worth of facelifts, tummytucks, makeup tatoos, etc. will never change the heart and soul. If one acts ugly, they ARE ugly and surgery can't change it. If one acts beautiful, even if lines and wrinkles fill the face, one IS beautiful. At least I know God feels that way. Who am I to tell Him He's wrong?

Posted by texasranger (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I stopped giving to the United Way after the scammers milked hundreds of thousands out of the program,that they found at the moment,no telling what they actually stole. It,s not audited regular enough or watches over by the right people. I give to the Mississippi Highway patrol and charities that i feel put the monies to good use. I gave to United Way some 30 odd years or so. I just feel like my money is being put to better use.Not put in someone,s personal checking account. These days it seems everything revolves around the con-artists and scammers,and people suing people over any and everything.

Posted by kpage (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

My last donations were to Crimestoppers and the Food Pantry. I would be glad if 90% of it went toward the actual cause. I guess in this day and time that's something to be thankful for. Like I told <<free>> earlier, I want to give to the actual person or persons, not pay the note on some administrator's Cadillac.

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 4:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

LOL! I guess you all know where most of my money goes!
Actually I do give to the Guardian Shelter and the Sunshine Shelter as well as the Humane Society and my church.
Yeah kpage, this woman really surprised me when her husband passed away. Within 3 months she was with another man, who happened to be married. I guess it just goes to show that you may think you know someone well, and then when something happens they show their real side. Our elders from the church talked to her about it, but I think she just wants to have the "good times" she never had because she married very young. I know I earned my wrinkles, sags, and extra few pounds! And I intend to keep them until God gives me that perfect new body in heaven!

Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 9:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How many of these people who are able is raising a garden this year? Is this program screened? Is this mostly edlery? If it is screened what goes into the screening? Do any of the people who recieve the food help distrubuit the food or help in anyway at the Food bank?

Posted by notabigot (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 9:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Poor woman. She is in crisis and maybe not rational and her own church members are getting on the Natchez Democrat Forum gossiping about her. Freedom, you have pretty much let everybody know where you go to church, so you haven't kept her anonymous to some people. That is cruel. It is People who claim they are Christians and behave this way towards others that make me not even want to go to church. I am a believer, and if you effect me like that, imagine how you effect those who are looking for a reason to not believe. I am sure it takes a lot of money to feed and care for horses for your pleasure. It is not up to you or me or kpage to tell anyone else how to be a steward of their resources. I hope that someone will reach out to this woman with genuine Christian love and concern and understnding. This situation may not be a test for her so much as it is a test for those who decalre their faith loud and clear for all to hear.

Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on June 8, 2008 at 12:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Well stated notabigot.

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on June 9, 2008 at 2:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

LOL!! Believe me this woman is not in a crisis! She is believes she is finally having everything she has missed out on. But we have counseled her, and told her we love her and God loves her just the way she is. Yes she has the right to spend her money any way she wants to, just as I do, just as all of you do. I personally think she should not care so much for how she looks. It is what is in her heart and her relationship with God that matters.
BTW the word you are looking for is "affect" not "effect".

Posted by notabigot (anonymous) on June 9, 2008 at 4:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My grandmother would have taken me out to the smoke house and torn my fanny up for correcting someone's grammer or spelling. She was a lady and believed, as do I, that correcting someone like that is the height of rudeness. She is also the one that taught me to be kind to the broken hearted. She was a pastors wife.

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on June 9, 2008 at 6:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I have thought of a lot of things to write here, but they would not be Christian and I won't give you that satisfaction. You two can think what you want, today is not my day to try to make you happy.

Posted by notabigot (anonymous) on June 9, 2008 at 7:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My grandmother would have torn me up for that last statement I made, too. I apologize for that Freedom

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