Sikeston/Bootheel Area United Way kicks off its fundraising campaign

SIKESTON — As the Sikeston/Bootheel Area United Way recently launched its annual fundraising campaign, it’s also marking its 60th year of operation.

The Sikeston/Bootheel Area United Way formally kicked off its 2023-2024 campaign during a luncheon Sept. 28 at Fox Haven Country Club in Sikeston.

According to Sikeston/Bootheel Area United Way Executive Director Lisa Angle, this year’s campaign goal is to raise $100,000, which is an increase from last year’s goal of $85,000.

Angle said the Sikeston/Bootheel United Way failed to meet its $85,000-goal last year, but some board members believed that setting a greater goal would inspire them to strive even higher.

“We want to be more positive and aim higher than what we’ve been shooting for,” Angle said.

According to Angle, there are numerous ways in which people may not be aware of the significant difference their support of the United Way makes in the community.

“Everybody kind of gets a misconception of the United Way because the United Way is everywhere,” Angle said. “Everybody has a local United Way, and once it’s raised all this money, the local United Way decides where it goes.

Angle said while United Way pays a small membership fee, all proceeds are donated to local agencies. 

“We give money to agencies that help our communities grow stronger in education, income and health,” Angle said. 

This year’s agencies the Sikeston/Bootheel Area United Way will support are Boys Scouts Greater St. Louis Area Council, Crisis Emergency Fund, Delta Area Blind, Foster Grandparent Program, Girls Scouts of the Missouri Heartland, Hearts with Hooves, Inc., Kenny Rogers Children’s Center, Nutrition Centers of Southeast Missouri, Scott County Transit, Sikeston Cultural Development Corporation, Sikeston Wrestling Club, Spread Hope Now, The Hope Therapeutic Horsemanship Center, Inc., and YMCA of Southeast Missouri. 

“We raise money so we can give to our communities,” Angle said. “If we give back to our community, then we are creating a better place for our families to live too.” 

According to Angle, the $100,000 larger goal was also set because the communities it serves also have additional needs. Angle said the reason donations to Sikeston/Bootheel United Way are so crucial is because there are more people in the area who are struggling.

“Poverty has gotten higher and higher, and because of inflation and the cost of living, we are having more and more homelessness and more people struggling financially,” Angle said. 

Angle said this year, the United Way implemented a new method of donation. She said the Sikeston/Bootheel United Way recently launched a Venmo account, giving an easy method to make donations.

Angle said to donate through Venmo, search “Sikeston Bootheel United Way” on the app.

The five counties that make up the Sikeston/Bootheel United Way service area are Scott, New Madrid, Mississippi, Stoddard and Butler counties, according to Angle. Angle said 20,000 or more residents of these five counties could easily help them accomplish their $100,000 goal before the campaign ends Dec. 31.

“My Scott County area has around 19,000 people,” Angle said. “Butler County 42,000, New Madrid County 16,000, Mississippi County 12,000, and Stoddard County 29,000.

Angle continued: “If everybody would just give $1-$5 in these counties, we’d easily have plenty of money to give away.”