Listening Sessions
Hope Matters
Be part of the solution. Please consider
the many volunteer opportunities listed on
the following agency pages. And please give
generously.
Together, we can achieve results that no
one can accomplish alone.
Daphne nods in agreement and smiles at
her father. ?I seriously think if I hadn't gone
to treatment, I'd be dead. I'm really thankful
I got to go. I was scared to leave. But I'm still
sober. There is hope for a good life now.?
Scott explains, ?We had a plan, I left that
meeting saying, ?We are going to beat this
thing!? After just a week or two in treatment,
I saw a huge change in Daphne. She started
looking good?acting like she was with us
again. It was an amazing transformation.
Now, I have my daughter back. The grades
are coming back up, and she's planning for
her future. What they did at Wellspring was
just unbelievable.?
EACH SPRING, UNITED WAY holds
listening sessions to learn about key issues
affecting our communities and the agencies
that serve them. Judges, law enforcement
officers, school officials, and nonprofits
come together to discuss the problems in our
community and work towards solutions.
Together, the United Way agencies help
form the community's safety net, meeting
basic needs, providing counseling and other
services that strengthen and assist families
and individuals, offering quality programs
for our young people, improving the quality
of life for our seniors.
This year, we heard about increasing
numbers living under the poverty level, a
desperate need for affordable and transitional
housing, increasing requests for food,
and a public transportation system that is
too limited, contributing to truancy and
making it difficult or impossible for children
and teenagers to get to the many positive
programs that are available. More children
are coming to school hungry, more people are
living in hotels and motels, and child abuse
and sexual abuse are on the rise. People are
being helped in increasing numbers, and
there are many success stories. But the needs
are growing.
Many pointed to drug and alcohol
abuse as a root problem in many cases.
Programs are in place to help, with dedicated
professionals who are making a difference.
The Soaring Eagle program of Wellspring is
one of those programs. And counselor Suzie
is one of the many caring professionals who
are helping people in crisis put their lives and
families back together.
Daphne was defiant, angry, drunk or
high most of the time. Scott, her father, didn't
know how to help her. Desperate, he saw no
way out. But after one meeting with Suzie, he
had hope.
Everyone has at least one role in this
battle. Many United Way agencies provide
counseling and help and in crisis. Still
others work at prevention, providing positive
activities and examples to help children and
adolescents make good choices to begin with.
Together, we can make our communities
healthier and safer.
Together, we can achieve results that no
one can accomplish alone.
Be part of the solution. Please consider
the many volunteer opportunities listed on
the following agency pages. And please give
generously.
| Download Listening Session Transcripts | ||
| Basic Human Needs 03/30/2006 |
Counseling, Advocacy Services 04/06/2006 |
Youth 04/20/2006 |