by Steve White
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — For 75 years, the Grand Island area has stood united, but the last few years have been some of the most challenging.
Grand Island Mayor Roger Steele issued a proclamation in honor of the Heartland United Way.
The organization has raised tens of millions going back to the 1940s.
They serve Hall, Hamilton, Howard and Merrick counties and have jumped into repeated disasters the last few years.
“Look what's happened the last three years with once in 500 year flood followed by COVID pandemic changed the outlook for many people in our area. United Way's focused on income, health and education, that tripod of our foundation, every one of those has been tremendously affected by the pandemic,” said Ron Dupue, a past board chair and past annual campaign chair.
United Way partners include the Boy Scouts and Council on Alcoholism while they also emphasize childhood poverty and literacy.
Supporters say the dollars help local organizations meet local needs and say when you donate, you can be assured you are supporting several worthy organizations.