[title subtitle=”words Catherine Frederick with Eddie Lee Herndon, President of United Way Fort Smith”][/title]
United Way of Fort Smith Area has provided change in our area, mobilizing our community in ways that no single agency, individual, or government can to enhance the ability of people to care for one another. United Way addresses the needs important to people who live and work in Crawford, Franklin, LeFlore, Logan, Sebastian and Sequoyah counties. Do South. reached out to Eddie Lee Herndon, President of United Way Fort Smith, to learn more.
DS: United Way of Fort Smith has been instrumental in coordinating and providing relief to those affected by the 2019 flooding. What are some of the ways our community can help?
The response from the community has been extraordinary. The community can continue to help those affected by the flooding by making donations of non-perishable food items or cleaning supplies. In addition, as flood recovery progresses, there will be families with specific needs. Those needs will best be met with monetary donations.
DS: Regarding donations, what are the current needs?
Currently, non-perishable food items, specifically foods that are easy to open and do not need to be cooked. In addition, cleaning supplies and trash bags.
DS: For members of our community who would like to make a financial donation, what is the best way to do so? We have a text to give option, you can text flood2019 to 91999. Also online at unitedwayfortsmith.org or simply mail a check to, United Way of Fort Smith Area, P.O. Box 2300 Fort Smith, AR 72902. If mailing a check please put flood2019 in the memo line.
DS: For members of our community who would like to volunteer, what is the best way
to do so?
You can volunteer online at unitedwayfortsmith.org. You will be contacted as projects become available. Most of the projects that we are getting now require specialized training. There will be more projects available as the recovery phase progresses.
DS: In what ways does United Way Fort Smith support our communities?
United Way of Fort Smith Area was established in 1928 and for the past 91 years has been connecting people in the River Valley with resources in the areas of health, education, and financial stability. We have 33 Community Partner Agencies in our six-county area. That area includes Crawford, Franklin, Logan and Sebastian counties in Arkansas, and LeFlore and Sequoyah counties in Oklahoma. In addition, United Way is the local affiliate for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Through this program we send an age appropriate book to a child from birth to age five. At present we have 2,600 local children on this program. We partner with FamilyWize, a prescription discount card, and in 2018 saved area residents $229,765 on their prescription medicines.
DS: What is your next event that our readers should know about?
Our next event is Fill the Bus. This event is held annually, the date this year is July 26th and 27th. We ask individuals to help us fill a bus full of supplies. The supplies are given to school districts in our six-county service area.
CONTACT INFO
320 South 18th Street
Fort Smith, Arkansas 72902
479.782.1311
unitedwayfortsmith.org
