United Way of Southern Chautauqua County Executive Director Amy Rohler and Director of Community Impact Lindsey Goold provide an update on their annual campaign as well provide more information about their Community Impact Report.

The United Way of Southern Chautauqua County has announced their 2022 allocations to local organizations. Community Impact Director Lindsey Goold spoke with WRFA about the process.

Director of Community Impact Lindsey Goold said the United Way funded 42 programs in the area of self-sufficiency, academic success, health and independence; and ready workforce.

She said 48 volunteers form eight panels to review which organizations receive funding, “And they’re given those programs to look over and review. And then we go on a site visit. And at that site visits we often times will tour those programs, hear a little bit about them, and then we really listen to their requests that they put in for United Way funding.”

Goold said the United Way received $151,000 more in requests this year than there was available to allocate, so a lot of tough decisions had to be made. She said organizations that do receive funding must report on which area of strategic focus, or AIMS, they fall under, “Twice a year, they also report to us about progress with their programs. So in academic success, it might be about graduation rates, it might be about babies being born healthy and having access to child care, things like that that we require them to track and report data back to us within those areas of focus.”

Funding will be released to approved organizations in July.

Community Baby Shower at the United Way

The United Way of Southern Chautauqua County is holding its annual “Community Baby Shower” until June 15.

The United Way raises money and collects items for local programs that support at-risk mothers and babies in the community. Local businesses, community groups, church groups and volunteer groups host a baby shower, collect items, and then drop them off to the United Way offices so they can be distributed to local agencies.

Over 700 children from ages 0 to 2 live in poverty in Chautauqua County.

Community members and groups can help by create an event or drop off at their business or organization where people can donate the essentials for families.

People may also text BABYUNITED to 41444 to donate directly to the Community Baby Shower campaign. 100% of these donations will go towards buying items for the Community Baby Shower.

For more information, including the Amazon Wish List for the baby shower, visit https://www.uwayscc.org/community-baby-shower, or contact Community Impact Director Lindsey Goold at 716-483-1561 ext. 201 or by email at lrensel@uwayscc.org.