Improving lives and meeting the needs of a community by uniting people and resources is the mission of the United Way. They meet that goal every day throughout Lafayette County through various charitable organizations, from Special Olympics to the LOU Reads program.

It’s a challenging and daunting task and it takes special people to meet those needs, as well as help from the community to give and support those programs.

Next Wednesday at noon at the Oxford Conference Center, United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County will hold their annual kickoff luncheon for the 2016 campaign.

It’s an opportunity to learn more about the various agencies United Way supports, as well as hear about the success stories from organizations that have been assisted through the United Way. Often, times those stories inspire us to dig a little deeper into giving financially, and if we can’t, to join an organization supported by the United Way through volunteering. The giving of your time can be just as rewarding, if not more so, than a monetary donation.

There are so many local organizations that could use more volunteers and we hope that members of our community will continue to give of their time and money  to assist the local United Way in making sure these organizations are supported.