I am honored to serve as the honorary chairperson for this year’s United Way campaign. As a pastor and as the director of the SALT Center (Shining a Light Together), I have seen first hand the impact United Way of Greater Fort Dodge is having in our community. United Way has become the go-to organization for lower income families that are in need of assistance.

United Way is doing very important work to help so many underprivileged youth and families in our community. I also appreciate the fact that the annual United Way campaign is truly a community process. It is all about hundreds of people coming together to support a community-wide effort to make a difference in the lives of the youth and their families in our community that need a helping hand.

The 2024 United Way campaign has kicked off and we are very hopeful that this year’s campaign will be successful. It really needs to be because the need for assistance in our community today is extremely high. The high prices we are all paying today for food, rent, utilities, gas , insurance and just about everything that families need is a challenge for so many of us, but for families living at or below the poverty level, inflation has been devastating.

If your’re like me, it’s hard to imagine a child living in our community today who is homeless or hungry or lacks proper clothing. Every child deserves to have a chance for a healthy and happy life — to grow up with a true sense of hope for a bright future. This is a foundational principle of United Way of Greater Fort Dodge.

It is painful to see so many of our kids who live in poverty, or close to the poverty struggle and cope with the challenges they face every day. Most of us take for granted our most basic needs for shelter, food, clothing, transportation and even personal safety. But for many children in our community, these basic needs are out of their reach. Some are even homeless or in a home that has no heat or water. That is where United Way steps in to help.

In Fort Dodge today, one out of every five kids lives in poverty and another 40 percent live in households that struggle to meet their basic living expenses. The hurdles these children and adolescents have to face are enormous. Many live in homes where housing is unstable, nutritious food is scarce, abuse and neglect are common, depression is pervasive, and resources for mental health care, clothing and transportation are very limited.

I know Fort Dodge is a caring community. I also know that there are so many struggling families with children that need our help. Be it $50, $100, or $500, your support will be used effectively to make a real difference in our community. Your donation can help United Way touch the lives of hundreds of youths, families, and seniors in an impactful way, and for some , a life-changing way.

I hope you will join me in supporting the United Way campaign. Every dollar donated to the campaign stays right here in the Fort Dodge area to provide support for the less fortunate who just need a helping hand. I can assure you that your donation will be used efficiently and in ways that will make the greatest impact and touch the lives of many children in need.

Making a donation to the United Way campaign is easy. You can mail a check to: United Way of Greater Fort Dodge, 24 N. Ninth St., Suite B, Fort Dodge, IA 50501. Or you can donate online at www.unitedwayfd.org.

Thank you. Your consideration of this request is greatly appreciated.

The Rev. Dani Rogers is the pastor of First Baptist Church and the honorary chair of the 2024 United Way campaign.