With funding for area nonprofit organizations becoming more and more difficult to find, its time to revert to a time-honored way of helping those in need, said Mark Hamblin, executive director of United Way of Beaufort County.
Hamblin made his remark in an appearance before the Washington City Council on Monday.
“With your budget being squeezed like it is, the county budget, the state budget and federal budget, we’ve got to get back to the way we used to do things. That’s neighbors helping neighbors. That’s our mission statement for the United Way. I love that mission statement because it’s so simple, but it says so much.”
United Way of Beaufort County raises money and distributes it to groups like Eagle’s Wings, Zion Shelter and Purpose of God Annex Outreach Center.
“These folks do an incredible work. They help out, as you know, in times of crisis. Organizations like Red Cross, The Salvations Army … all these folks do a fantastic job in providing services to the citizens of Beaufort County and specifically Washington,” Hamblin said. “There have been some bumps in the road with some organizations as far as funding goes. We’re going to talk about that a little bit in just a second. … Without these folks, I cringe to think about what Washington and Beaufort County would be like without these organizations — actually, all the community partners, the 19 community partners we represent.”
Hamblin asked the council members and mayor to help promote and support United Way’s efforts to obtain funding for its partner organizations.
“In your position as an elected official, I hope that you will be advocates for us and our community partners and nonprofits in this community because I think you understand … that without these community partners, this community would be a lesser place,” Hamblin said.
Hamblin said community members have a responsibility to support the organizations that help them and their community.
Hamblin also thanked the city and its employees for being strong supporters of United Way, presenting the city a plaque in recognition of that support.