Lend a Helping Hand

When you give to United Way, your contribution, combined with the gifts of hundreds of other people becomes a significant pool that is distributed based on what has the potential to create significant lasting change. Volunteers are an essential element, from dedicated board members, campaign cabinet members and their workplace campaign teams, to community members who assist with the review and recommendation for community investment of campaign resources.

Each year volunteers from United Way of Seneca County are responsible for reviewing requests from our funded partner agencies, assessing the needs in the community and making the tough decisions about how to recommend community investments. Volunteers have access to and review financial information, agency outcomes and the Community Profile. Coupled with training on the investment process, and agency interviews, volunteers become experts on the needs in our community and the agencies that address them.

Many funded partner agencies depend on volunteers to assist with disaster response, or provide general clerical support, extra hands for projects at Scout camps or in child care centers. Some serve as coaches for sports events, work at food pantries, help with the annual A Taste of Spring gala, or the annual Chicken BBQ.

With your help, we can change lives!

The United Way is always looking for volunteers throughout the year, especially around campaign time. If you are interested in helping out with the campaign, or serving on a committee, please contact us at uwseneca@rochester.rr.com.

Would you like to help make sure elderly residents have a meal?  The Meals on Wheels program at the American Red Cross in the Finger Lakes needs volunteer drivers in the Northern Seneca County area who can help 1 or 2 days a week, from 10:30 to noon.  Please contact 315-568-9436 for more information.  Thanks for caring!

Help needed - at the Seneca County House of Concern in Seneca Falls. This agency has a re-sale shop with proceeds from the Thrift Store used to purchase items for the food pantry. Volunteers are always needed to help with dozens of tasks, large and small. Please contact 568-2433. Thanks for making a difference!

Like to read? Tutors are needed to work with adults who want to improve their literacy skills. Volunteers to make a difference in someone's life and we will train you! Please call Literacy Volunteers of Seneca County at 315-539-1795. Tutor training class begins in October - someone is waiting for you! Thanks for Sharing your talents!

Need to connect? We can help you make a difference in your community! Email us at uwseneca@rochester.rr.com.

Our Seneca County “heroes” are recognized as Herb Wurstner Award nominees each February at the Annual Meeting.

The 2008 nominees include:

• Diana Becker, Seneca County Children’s Committee
• Cal Brainard, Literacy Volunteers of Seneca County
• Phyllis Dunlap, Waterloo Library & Historical Society
• Peter Eisenberg, Finger Lakes Council- Boy Scouts of America
• Merle Foster, Seneca/Cayuga ARC
• Nelson McCann, Creative Choices Day Care
• Sonya Poorman, Girl Scouts - Seven Lakes Council, Inc.
• Susan Souhan, Seneca Falls Historical Society
• Jerry Straub, Four Town Community Center
• Marty Toombs, Seneca Falls Library
• Cyndee Uerkvitz, American Red Cross in the Finger Lakes
• Janalee & Stan Weaver, Rape & Abuse Crisis Service of the Finger Lakes

Through a volunteer's eyes... by various community members

"Working on the United Way campaign has been an eye-opening experience for me as the employees at ITT consistently provide their support as campaign leaders and are generous in their pledges. Many employees related their personal experiences with the United Way agencies or their desire to support the community. I find it to be a rewarding experience and opportunity to work and talk with people that I don't otherwise interact with on a daily basis. " - Adrienne Burgess

"Serving on a Non-Profit Board has made me see people through different eyes. I feel sadness for people who are abused or who lack resources to provide for themselves and their children. But I feel happiness seeing a youth having his/her first experience as a Scout. I feel pride in the preservation of our history and the willingness of people to volunteer their resources and time to assist others." - Dick Laude

"Helping United Way make decisions for distribution of community investment funds has been an opportunity for me to assist agencies I am ordinarily not able to fund." - Charlie Schillaci

"Working on the community investment committee has a similarity to the capture of a perfect photo: The lens of the committee can zero in on the financial and personnel details for the various agencies, then zoom out to catch the broader spectrum of how all the image fits the scope of the final picture, the investment of the United Way dollars." - Dede Olufsen