MASON CITY, IOWA – United Way of North Central Iowa would like to invite community members to the 2012 Campaign Kickoff. Please join United Way at 8:00 a.m. Thursday, August 16 at the Salvation Army, 747 Village Green Drive, Mason City.
Gary Schmit, 2012 United Way Campaign Chair, will highlight United Way’s goals, the campaign focus, and make a special announcement regarding the launch of United Way’s Backpack Buddies program.
Backpack Buddies provides meals to food insecure elementary school children in United Way’s nine country region. Children receive backpacks of food to take home as meals to get them through the weekend. United Way’s research, results, and the participating schools will be announced at Kickoff.
Following the Campaign Kickoff, United Way will be distributing athletic shoes for students in need going back to school. Children from all across North Central Iowa are eligible to redeem shoes at the Salvation Army from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Children must be present to receive a pair of shoes.
United Way encourages community members to continue donating athletic shoes for the Shoe Drive. More than 500 pairs of shoes from local donors have been collected, putting United Way just under halfway of the 1,200 pairs of shoes goal. United Way will collect new to gently used athletic shoes in all sizes until August 15. Monetary donations will be accepted at the United Way office, 600 First Street NW, Mason City to purchase additional shoes.
United Way of North Central Iowa is helping people, changing lives and building community by focusing on the building blocks of a better life: education, income and health. For more information about United Way, please contact us at 641-423-1774 or visit our website at www.unitedwaynci.org.
