United Way gets new life in city

The United Way in Yorkton is re-organizing with a new board of directors and renewed enthusiasm.

That enthusiasm starts with the new board's head Marjorie Smith.

Smith said she is new to the city, arriving last December and wanted to become involved in the community.

"It's (the UW) a good cause There was a need," she said, adding there was an opening for a new board chair and she was eager to accept. "Growing up it had always been an organization I'd had some contact with."

So what went wrong in the past that the revamped UW will have to avoid?

"There wasn't a committed board, where now we do have a committed board," she said, adding those involved now see the UW "as a primary role for them."

The UW in Yorkton almost disappeared a couple of years ago when United Way Canada was looking to dismantle the local branch for lack of interest, explained Maryann Federko. It was at that time the local Labour Council took the reins to keep the organization alive.

"They let us take over as long as we worked to get it back into the hands of the community," she said.

In 2012, the Labour Council disseminated $42,000 in funds to member organizations, SIGN, the Boys and Girls Club of Yorkton, the Yorkton branch of Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and the Canadian Mental Health Drop In Centre.

The UW used to serve a broader range of community groups, and Smith said they would welcome more again.

"We'd like to see that list grow," she said.

With the UW re-organized plans are under way to fundraise to meet a 2013 target of $20,000. In fact they have held a hotdog sale in association with Sobey's and ran the Child Find Booth at the Yorkton Exhibition.

Next up is a golf tourney at the Canora Golf Club Friday, Aug. 23. An $80.00 entry fee or $150.00 in pledges is required to golf. Each golfer who brings in pledges of $150 or more will have a free tournament entry, supper, awards and door prizes. Prizes will be awarded to the top-five golfers who bring in the highest amount in pledges.

"The residential campaign will kick off in September," said Smith, adding the business blitz will be in October.

Groups interested in being a part of the local United Way, people with fundraising ideas, or wanting to volunteer may contact Federko at 621-8948 or [email protected] or Smith at 782-1966 or [email protected]