GIVING TUESDAY NOW
United Way of Southwest Oklahoma will embark on a unique fundraising event Tuesday to help 17 nonprofit agencies that are “hurting” because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Frank Myers, community engagement manager for the United Way chapter, will be one of three people who host a four-hour Facebook telethon to generate donations. Their goal, Myers said, is $5,000 combined with a matching grant from nonprofit Fire Spring.
“So, if we raise $5,000, then we’ll get $10,000. Whatever we raise then they’ll match that amount,” Myers said.
The need to help the United Way agencies is real, especially now that more people have lost their jobs and are relying on social service agencies for food, clothing and financial assistance.
The upcoming Facebook telethon, Giving Tuesday Now, will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. with Myers, radio DJ Indie Michaels and community advocate Albert Rivas serving as hosts. Each of the 17 agencies will be highlighted for about 10 minutes each as a spokesman for each group explains their mission and goals for the residents of southwest Oklahoma.
Some of the partner agencies have been forced to make adjustments to their operations due to the coronavirus, such as the homeless shelters who are required to comply with social distancing rules and increased cleaning and sanitation.
At The Salvation Army, workers are staffing the center 24 hours a day because of increased demand, Myers said. Meanwhile, the Center for Creative Living, a facility that aids senior citizens, is providing curbside meal service five days a week compared to the two days that was part of the previous schedule.
The YMCA has also moved to provide free childcare for nurses and frontline responders, Myers said. “There are some people who have never needed before who need help now,” he said.
Resources the agencies had earlier this year have been depleted because of the virus and the increased demand for assistance, community advocate Rivas said.
“This pandemic has changed the way people live, they’ve lost jobs and they’re needing help,” he said. “People’s needs don’t stop.”
As word spread about the Facebook telethon, United Way picked up three donations last Friday totaling $500. Donations can be given after the telethon concludes Tuesday.
Residents can go to the Southwest Oklahoma United Way Facebook page to watch the telethon and donate.
The agencies that receive funding from United Way are Armed Services YMCA, Boy Scouts of America - Last Frontier Council, CASA of Southwest Oklahoma, Catholic Charities, Center for Creative Living, Christian Family Counseling Center, Family Promise of Lawton, Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma, Inc., C. Carter Crane Shelter for the Homeless, Hearts That Care Volunteer Health Clinic, Lawton Family YMCA.
Also, Lawton Food Bank, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Mary Detty Youth & Family Service Center, Roadback, Inc., Salvation Army Corps Community Center, Service By 6 and Teen Court, Inc.
“There is no cost to the community for all of these services, but there’s a definite cost to them (agencies),” Rivas said.