Dear Editors:

The 2009 K-State United Way fund drive, aimed at faculty and staff, began on Nov. 1. This effort is in support of the United Way of Riley County that is raising funds to help support the work of 13 local human service organizations.

These agencies touch every age, from infant to retiree, and continue to make Riley County a great place to live. They can't do it alone. They need our support. We hope everyone will include the United Way as a key part of their giving. There's no better way to do so much good and to help so many people than by supporting United Way.

In last year's campaign almost 800 of the 4,800 faculty and staff here at K-State committed to the needs of United Way. Fellow K-Staters, we can do better than this!

If every K-State employee were to only take $2 out of each paycheck (payroll deduction), imagine the good that will come from it. $2 a paycheck, that's 14 cents per day. Imagine the good that someone in need will receive from your simple act of giving.

As Bill Kennedy, former Riley County Attorney and current United Way of Riley County campaign chair stated, "It does happen here."

Our community does have children and women who are victims of abuse, families do lose homes due to fire or tornado, both parents do have to work and need quality child care for their children.

Let's live United and show our community how much we care!

- Bill Wisdom; K-State Student Union,
  Loleta Sump; University Facilities
  K-State United Way Campaign Co-Chairs