GMACC and United Way pay it forward

Two community groups have joined together to help out another local organization.  The Interlakes Area United Way volunteered to manage beverage sales at this past summer’s DownTown in MadTown events and Bacon Bash, both events coordinated by the Greater Madison Area Chamber of Commerce.  By doing this at the events, the Interlakes Area United Way received a portion of the sales plus tips.  They made more than 32-hundred dollars from the events.  United Way President Lori Gustaf said that close to half of the money will be added to the organization’s general fund, which supports all its partner agencies in Lake, Miner and Moody counties. The remaining was donated to a local shoe drive to support school-aged children.

Sarah Hock of Inter-Lakes Community Action Partnership conducts an annual Back to School Shoes project on behalf of Salvation Army. Hock raised $7,000 in 2021 to provide new shoes to 145 children in 70 families. Children ranged in age from Jr. Kindergarten to 12th grade.

Interlakes Area United Way donated $1,500 to the project, which would serve roughly 30 children.

The United Way is currently hosting its campaign drive for 2022. The organization awarded over $107,000 to 27 non-profit partners in 2021.