By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
* Photo gallery
* March 24: United Way exceeds $250K goal
* Sept. 11: Day of Caring allows county to breathe better
ROCKINGHAM — John Jackson said he was constantly, and pleasantly, surprised at how even the lowest-paid workers at FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital donate so much to United Way of Richmond County.
Michelle Parrish, executive director of the local office, said that feel-good vibe is consistent throughout most of the companies that pledge to assist United Way of Richmond County and its 16 umbrella agencies.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Wayne Osborne represented Perdue Farms Inc., the workforce for which was the second largest donor in the recently concluded United Way of Richmond County campaign.
“Some folks who have the least to give, give the most,” Parrish said.
The spirit of each and every donor was honored on Wednesday during an hour-long United Way of Richmond County Annual Meeting and Awards Celebration. More than four dozen people gathered in the auditorium on the third floor of FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital to recognize top donors and those that increased from last year to this.
First, though, Parrish reviewed some of the numbers of the annual campaign that began with a goal of $250,000:
* $281,179.78 collected in the campaign
* 12,331 individuals assisted in the last year
The local United Way noticed a 13.8 percent increase in individuals assisted from last year to this, Parrish said, indicating the need isn’t going away anytime soon.
Parrish and United Way board member Keith Parsons helped Pastor Steve Crews, of Backpack Pals, and Ed Hairfield, assistant chief at Richmond County Rescue Squad — the latter two representing two of the 16 agencies through which United Way dollars make Richmond County a better place.
Parrish also thanked the individuals who serve on the allocations committee. They work, she said, to ensure that donations are spent making Richmond County a healthier place to live.
Parsons noted “what a great day today is” and acknowledged the United Way’s Day of Caring is only a few months away. Last September, 110 volunteers amassed 481 hours of volunteer work that totaled $10,846.55 in unpaid labor on nine projects throughout the county.
Increases
Twelve companies had a workforce that increased its giving from this year to last, including:
Trinity Manufacturing, Belk, FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital, Community One Bank, Long’s Pools, Piedmont Natural Gas, Richmond County Schools, Swink Quality Oil and Gas, Vulcan Materials, Plastek, Perdue Farms Inc. and Richmond County Government.
$5,000 or more
Eleven companies had a workforce that donated at least $5,000. Those companies are: Community One Bank, Duke Energy Progress, FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital, ITG Burlington, Perdue Farms Inc., Piedmont Natural Gas, Richmond County Government, Richmond County Schools, Sealed Air Corp. (now Novipax), Vulcan Materials and Trinity Manufacturing.
A total of 82 businesses or local families were recognized for their contributions during the recently concluded campaign.
The United Way of Richmond County distributes grants to local agencies for under four key areas:
Children and Youth
Back Pack Pals, Boy Scouts, Communities in Schools, Cordova School, Girl Scouts, Leak Street Alumni, Richmond County 4-H clubs and Sandhills Children Center.
Health and Wellness
Richmond County Aging Services, Samaritan Colony.
Strengthening and Supporting
Habitat for Humanity of the Sandhills, Richmond County Literacy Council
Crisis Services
American Red Cross, New Horizons Life and Family Services, Our Daily Bread, Rockingham Rescue Squad and the Salvation Army.
Discussion