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Helping people in need is a worthy goal, but in recent years the Salina Area United Way has worked to go beyond that to use its resources to strengthen the community.

Members of Salina's Noon Rotary Club heard a presentation about that new direction Monday, starting with board president and Salina City Manager Jason Gage describing the "old model of helping people in need," which the organization is still doing, while also focusing more on identifying problems in the community and taking them on.

Broadly, Gage said, the issues United Way is working on fall into the categories of education, financial stability and health.

United Way Executive Director Andy Martin then introduced several people from United Way supported organizations to illustrate the point, starting with Michelle Peck, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Salina.

Peck said that besides setting up the regular relationships between "bigs" and "littles," her organization also has a goal of recruiting 200 more mentors to work with middle school students, visiting them at school and helping keep them engaged in getting an education.

At the Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas, victim advocate Claudette Almaraz said, domestic violence victims are getting help with writing resumés, job interviewing and other skills "so they can go back into the workforce, support their families, and be a contributing member of the community."

Almaraz said victims often return to living with the abuser -- the average is seven times -- because they don't have the skills needed to support themselves and their children. Ashby House and Catholic Charities are engaged in similar programs.

Low-birthweight babies

At Salina Family Health Care Center, there's an emphasis on prenatal care to prevent babies with low birthweights, said CEO Dr. Rob Freelove.

Babies with low birthweights are at risk of other health problems later, and "not having money to pay for prenatal care is a big obstacle."

In addition to affordable prenatal care, Freelove said, his clinic also offers prenatal education, including free day care to allow parents to attend the classes.

He also told the story of a local truck driver who lost his license after being diagnosed with diabetes.

"That was his skill, driving a truck, and how he supported his family," Freelove said.

After nine months, and a cost to the truck driver of $75 in medical expenses, "we had his diabetes under control and he was back on the road," again supporting his family, Freelove said.

Let us tell our story

Martin urged those at the Rotary meeting to invite United Way representatives to come to their businesses, churches and other venues to ask people to contribute.

"Why do people give to the United Way? The main reason is they are asked," he said.

Martin said that about 8 percent of people living in Saline County contribute to the United Way -- and only about 15 to 20 percent have been asked.He thinks actively asking more people to contribute will encourage more people to get involved.

"Let us come tell our story," Martin said.

-- Reporter Mike Strand can be reached at 822-1418 or by email at mstrand@salina.com.

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