Why should I give to the United Way when I can just give directly to the organization that I want to support?

That’s a good question, and you can do that, and we do appreciate it. But here’s why it’s also important to give to the United Way of Door County. They don’t just fund local organizations – they also provide educational and networking opportunities for local non-profit agencies so that the agencies can work together to provide all of the resource information a person or family may need. In addition, the United Way researches the needs of our community and uses creative problem-solving to arrive at solutions for addressing those needs. Once a resulting non-profit is established, the United Way is there to advise them, to help make sure that the organization is successful.

For example, in Door County, without the work and guidance of the United Way, we would not have these services implemented in our community: Door Tran, STRIDE (a program that provides access to quality mental health treatment for Door County youth), Door County Food Pantry Coalition, Boys and Girls Club, DCMC Dental Clinic (for our lower income population), and Door County Partnership for Children & Families, among others.

So, thank you for giving to the charities of your choice. But, please, also consider a donation to the United Way of Door County, which relies on contributions from individuals for 70% of their funding, so that they may continue to support and create the services that many in our communities rely on. Send your contribution to United Way of Door County, P.O. Box 223, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235. You will be contributing to the long-term health of your community.