By By MICHELE GERLACH Publisher
Agencies funded by the United Fund of Brewton and East Brewton provide services on which it is almost impossible to put a price tag.
Yet a price tag is necessary if those services are to continue.
That's the message Connie Baggett delivered at Thursday's kickoff luncheon for the 2005 United Fund drive.
Baggett drew on the experiences in this community of Hurricane Ivan to underscore her point.
For example, she said, the American Red Cross provided shelter to those without a safe place to stay; meals to those who had no food;
The United Fund board hopes to raise $90,000 for 15 local organizations this year.
United Fund board chairman Mark Manning also said meeting this year's goal will be challenging.
United Fund asks community members to contribute the equivalent of one hour's wages each month. These contributions are in turn funneled to United Fund agencies.
This year, those agencies include Kid One Transport; Brewton Area YMCA; East Escambia Chapter of the American Red Cross; Girl Scouts - Deep South Council; Brewton Public Library; Brewton Parks and Recreation Dept. Escambia County Mental Health Association; Boy Scouts - Gulf Coast Council; East Brewton Youth Sports; Southwest Alabama Mental Health/Mental Retardation Board; Escambia County Library System; Alabama Cooperative Extension System; Disabled Children and Adults - Brewton Chapter; Salvation Army; and the Christian Community Benevolent Fund.
United Fund board members will be soliciting donations in the next eight weeks. Contribution cards are available, or donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 34, Brewton, .Ala.