Be proud of more than a new car -- volunteer

If I asked you to tell me something that you did last year that made you proud, what would your answer be? Would it be about buying your new car, catching the biggest fish, getting a promotion at work? What if the proverbial St. Peter asked you that same question? Wouldn't it be nice to be able to respond, "When I fed the hungry at the FISH Pantry; when I helped Habitat for Humanity build a house for the homeless; when I changed a child's life by volunteering at school or at the Boys and Girls Club of Dundee Township."

Dundee Township is now part of the Northwest Suburban United Way. In October our Far Northwest Suburban United Way engaged in a merger to provide greater efficiency and add more resources to help residents in their time of need. The new Northwest Suburban United Way is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago system.

"By consolidating two strong United Ways we can streamline operations and devote more donor dollars to touch and improve more people's lives," explained Michael Abruzzini, NWSUW board president and president of Buffalo Grove Bank and Trust. "Combining forces frees up staff time from administrative concerns to focus time and energy on our community to advance the common good."

The consolidated organization will invest close to $3.5 million in local health and human care programs in the coming year. Local volunteers will continue to determine where funding should be directed based on the priority needs of each community. But besides dollars, "people power" is also essential.

"Living United is something everyone can do. Whether it's sharing your financial resources, advocating for health and services in your community, or giving of your time, all of us can make a difference," Abruzzini said.

"In these uncertain times, community organizations like United Way are more important than ever. United Way provides the leadership and resources it takes for families and individuals to be independent by focusing on income, education and health, which are the building blocks for a self-sufficient life."

This is going to be a rough period of time, and dollars are not enough. That is to what the Live United Campaign really refers.

I serve as a member of the NWSUW board and I know that there is not a single neighborhood that has not been affected by the economy, so it really comes down to neighbor helping neighbor. Local businesses, organizations, churches and villages all will have a role to play. We have many wonderful community groups in our area who are doing yeoman's work but are badly in need of volunteers.

There are so many opportunities out there and so many chances to "Live United."

I plan to do my bit and as a part of every column this year, I will highlight a service organization like the Lions Club or Friends of the Library and tell you what it does, when and where it meets and give you the phone number of its membership chair.

If you have more money than time, I also hope to occasionally print any "Wish Lists" provided by local charities so that you can all be a part of "What's Hot in 2009? Volunteering."