The United Way of the Eastern Panhandle is conducting their annual fundraising effort this 
month through the Unity Campaign.
From September 11-22, when contributors give through the Unity Campaign, 100 percent of their donation will go to the nonprofit of their choice.
In addition, a portion of each gift will be matched by the Incentive Match Sponsor.
Several groups that provide services to Morgan County residents are part of the Unity Campaign, seeking donations to support specific programs or meet particular social needs in our community.
Morgan County Starting Points
This year, we hope to raise $5,000 with our campaign. Funds will be used to support Camp MoCo, which is a full day, six-week program for students in grades K-5 offering literacy, arts, science, technology, math and a physical/health education component.
Breakfast and lunch are provided by the Boys & Girls Club summer meals program, and Starting Points supplements fresh produce for meals, snack, and nutrition education. Children with higher food resource needs receive food for weekends through the Starting Points Backpack Program. At least one child confided to the mentors that they were hungry due to lack of food in the home.
Each year of Camp MoCo has been very successful. Comparison data for the 135 children attending in 2018 showed that more than 50% maintained or gained in reading levels over the summer. Students received one or two new books a week for their personal library. Parent surveys show more than 90% of students read their books at home with parents – a crucial achievement tied to maintaining reading levels.
Morgan County Partnership
This year, we hope to raise $10,000 with our campaign. Those funds will allow us to implement evidence-based programming in Morgan County Schools. The Partnership seeks support to provide Positive Actions, Too Good for Drugs, Too Good for Violence, and Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) programs in Morgan County Schools. But we can’t do this without you.
Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle
The Boys & Girls Club wants to raise $25,000 through the Unity Campaign this year. It provides after school and summer programs for more than 1,100 children in the Eastern Panhandle. The members range in age from five to 18 years old and attend the club programs during after-school hours and in the summer. The club offers a mentor-centric approach to its program, with a goal for each member to have one person who they can go to whether it is to share a success or receive support during a challenging time in their life. The Unity Campaign funds will support scholarships to ensure that each child who enters its programs has a successful club experience.
Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center
This year the Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center (EPEC) hopes to raise $7,000 through the Unity Campaign. The mission is to protect victims, prevent violence and empower survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking. We accomplish this by providing victims and survivors the resources to effectively cope with the personal, social, emotional and legal ramifications of victimization.
EPEC’s primary client population are men, women, and children of all ages who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking and dating violence.
The Unity Campaign funds will help us help them to work through the court system (including gas cards/transportation to hearings), find childcare while they seek employment, needed items for beginning work, first month’s rent and security deposits on new safe housing, medical needs, etc. These funds would be used to help them achieve safety and independence from their abuser or trafficker.
Faith Community Coalition for the Homeless
Its goal this year is to raise $5,000 through the Unity Campaign. The mission of this all-volunteer organization in Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties is to fill gaps in housing by providing warm, safe, dry, emergency shelter for persons experiencing homelessness when traditional funds and services are not available. We are a last hope for those who are about to fall through the cracks of an over-extended traditional system of helping the homeless.
American Red Cross
The mission of the American Red Cross is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. Its goal this year is to raise $5,000 through the Unity Campaign.
The American Red Cross of Northeast West Virginia serves residents in Morgan, Berkeley and Jefferson counties that have experienced a disaster such as flooding or a home fire. In the aftermath of a disaster, clients most often need lodging, food, clothing, mental health and casework assistance.
Funds raised through this campaign will be used to support the resources needed to provide client assistance so that their basic needs can be met in the aftermath of a disaster.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity of the Eastern Panhandle hopes to raise $10,000 this year through the Unity Campaign. Its mission is to build safe, decent affordable houses for low-income families in Morgan, Berkeley and Jefferson counties through its Homeownership Program.
These partner families need safe, decent affordable shelter where they can live and raise their families. Partner families are generally unable to afford simple, decent housing through normal channels.
Catholic Charities WV
The goal this year is to raise $5,000. It works with low-income individuals and families in Morgan, Berkeley and Jefferson counties to help them work toward lasting and meaningful change. Reliable transportation is often one of the greatest barriers to this. The Unity Campaign funds will be used to support our “Let’s Keep Rolling” project.
It specifically raises funds to cover transportation costs for clients. Catholic Charities has helped clients pay for bus passes, car registration, car insurance, car repairs, tires and the purchase of car parts.
Donate online or by mail
To support one of the groups online, go to https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/UNITY.
To submit a donation by mail or email, donors can print a form from the United Way website and send it with their contribution. The form is available at www.uwayep.org. It can be emailed as an attachment to Lindaat Lwells@uwayep.org or printed and mailed to: 24 District Way, Ste. 201, Martinsburg, W.Va. 25404.
