Lawrence, KS—As May ends, United Way of Kaw Valley (UWKV) is hopeful that one final wave of local support will help Douglas County surpass its $600,000 United Way Campaign goal. To meet this goal, the organization needs to raise about $30,000 before June 30.
To shrink the gap, UWKV is preparing for its annual Day of Giving on Wednesday, June 5. Day of Giving is a 24-hour event that marks the final month of UWKV’s annual campaign. Day of Giving is primarily an online event in much of the UWKV’s four-county service area that includes Douglas, Jackson, Jefferson and Shawnee Counites. But Douglas County offers several opportunities to also engage in person.
“I am so excited for our community to learn how to get involved with UWKV and hear about all the ways we are already investing in our Douglas County,” said Brooklynne Mosley, Chair of the UWKV Douglas County Advisory Council. “We all see the need and challenges some of our most vulnerable friends and neighbors are tackling, Day of Giving is the opportunity to be part of the solution.”
To make donating easy, UWKV has a special online site, UWKVDayOfGiving.org, where supporters can preview areas of need for each county and take advantage of Day of Giving matching gifts opportunities. Money donated in Douglas County supports community initiatives and collaborations, volunteer engagement projects and infrastructure and grants to Douglas County partners.
Douglas County Radiothon with Great Plains Media
On Day of Giving, Great Plains Media (GPM) in Lawrence will showcase United Way’s work with Douglas County community partners in a 12-hour “radiothon” that includes live “Cruising for a Cause” events to promote awareness and giving.
United Way Day of Giving 2/2
From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., GPM will be “Cruising for a Cause” and will remote in to KLWN, KISS- FM and The Bull from special events across Douglas County. KLWN also will host live conversations with United Way community partners, volunteers, AmeriCorps members and staff live at the station.
Food and Personal Care Product Drive
In addition, UWKV’s Day of Giving Food and Personal Care Product Drive starts June 3 at Checkers. The three-day drive is a partnership with GPM, Checkers, the Ballard Center and Mass Street Collective. During the drive, shoppers can donate nonperishable foods and personal care products in specially marked barrels at Checkers grocery (2300 Louisiana St. Lawrence, KS).
To wrap up the food and supply drive, on Wednesday, June 5 from 2 to 4 pm, United Way’s Youth Service Coalition and Mass St. Collective affiliated KU athletes (including many KU football players) will volunteer at Checkers to collect donated items and carry out groceries for donors. GPM will broadcast live from the store’s parking lot.
The Elizabeth B. Ballard Community Center will process and distribute the donations from the drive to organizations throughout Douglas County.
While online giving will continue until 11:59 pm, the GPM Cruising for a Cause crew will celebrate the day and close out the radiothon’s final hour (5 to 6 pm) with live broadcasts from event location sponsor 23rd Street Brewery, 3512 Clinton Parkway.
For more information about the Day of Giving, please email Meg Hooper Pearson at mpearson@uwkawvalley.org.
About United Way of Kaw Valley
In September 2022, United Way of Douglas County merged with United Way of Greater Topeka to form United Way of Kaw Valley (UWKV). UWKV serves as a grant maker, community convenor, volunteer organizer and strategic partner for the nonprofit sector in Shawnee, Douglas, Jackson and Jefferson counties in northeast Kansas. Donor dollars are invested locally and support a broad range of initiatives that benefit the whole family in education, financial stability and health, as well as racial equity and family supports/basic needs.