Sikeston/Bootheel Area United Way seeks donations as fundraising campaign kicks off

Lisa Angle, executive director of the Sikeston/Bootheel Area United Way, left, and Lisa Hicks, administrator of the Sikeston OAKS Nutrition Center, smile as a child makes a donation to the United Way’s 2024 fundraising campaign, which kicked off Oct. 1, outside of Walmart in Sikeston. The OAKS center is one of 13 local, nonprofit agencies that benefits from the Sikeston/Bootheel Area United Way. (Leonna Heuring/Standard Democrat)

SIKESTON — This year, the Sikeston/Bootheel Area United Way is celebrating 61 years. During that time, a lot of donations and changes have occurred.

Now, the 501(c)(3) is asking for the public’s assistance during its 2024 fundraising campaign, which runs from Oct. 1-Dec. 31, as corporate donations have receded over the years.

This year, the fundraising goal is $75,000.

“Last year, we did not get where we needed,” said Sikeston/Bootheel Area United Way Executive Director Lisa Angle. “We have had to cut agencies. My board makes those decisions. We were not able to meet our goal, so we were unable to give them as much money as we wanted to.”

Due to a financial constraints, the organization had to cut agencies — from 20 to 13 this year.

“We are really struggling,” said Angle. “It is just hard times for everybody.”

Angle pointed to one vital variable that has impeded donations: the loss of New Madrid County’s Noranda Aluminum smelter which closed in 2016.

“What has happened, ever since Noranda left, we have just been going down,” said Angle. “They were such a big contributor.”

Noranda, which had nearly 500 employees, and others, utilized payroll deductions for corporate donations.

“We have lost a lot of the payroll deduction companies,” added Angle. “A lot of the places are doing their own foundation and then choosing where it goes, like scholarships. When they have it withheld from their check, it goes to the foundation they work for.”

The chapter supports all of the nutrition centers throughout the Bootheel area, covering the following counties: Scott, New Madrid, Mississippi, Stoddard and Butler.

“That is who is really hurting this year: our senior citizens,” said Angle. “They all got their budgets cut. The funding is not there, and it is just sad because our seniors need it.”

Angle spends the current time contacting new companies, including more than 125 mailings.

“Mostly, the same people give every year,” said Angle, who is in her sixth year with the organization. “Most people think the money goes to the big United Way corporation. The money that is raised here stays here.”

For more information on financial contributions, contact Angle at 573-471-0310.

Where do the funds go?

By supporting the United Way, individuals are impacting the community and making a definitive difference in some of the following ways:

— Assisting children in preparation for school and success once they arrive. Camps and scholarships for the youth who are trying to better themselves.

— Donations help those who are struggling through tough times — whether it is financial hardships, emotional and mental issues, homelessness, addiction or abuse — your donations help those in crisis.

— Financial assistance helps improve the quality of life for those with health challenges — adults and children — with disabilities such as blindness as well as senior citizens’ programs that assist to enrich physical, social and emotional well-being.