United Way of St. Francois County making Wishing Well plans

Sunday, November 1, 2009 4:08 AM CST

The frost may be barely on the pumpkins and the goblins have just made their Halloween rounds, but the United Way of St. Francois County is already scheduling bell-ringers for the Christmas season. The fun begins on Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving, at 5 a.m. in Farmington and at 9 a.m. in Park Hills at Wishing Well stations at local stores.

“We have some people who love to get out there with the early shoppers and ring,” said Bonnie Bockenkamp, coordinator of the Bell-ringing program. “It’s never dull ringing at Walmart and JC Penney’s just as the Christmas shopping season begins.”

In Park Hills, ringing will begin at 9 a.m. at Country Mart and continue on Saturdays and Sundays until Dec. 20. In Farmington, ringers are needed at two doors daily at Country Mart from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. and at JC Penney’s from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

United Way Board President Mary Lee Faircloth is coordinating the ringing schedule in Park Hills. Rocky Good has organized a number of Farmington churches to ring and this year, new Executive Director Donna Hickman is manning “Bell-Ringing Central” in the United Way’s office at 739 E. Karsch, inside the L.I.F.E. Center.

“People interested in ringing the bell either in Farmington or in Park Hills need to call me at 573-760-8929 or send me an e-mail at donna@unitedwayofsfc.org,” said Hickman. “Individuals, families, co-workers, organizations and groups of friends can ring for an hour or more. In addition,  I’d love to have some musicians who might play and sing a Christmas song or two as they man the Wishing Wells.”

Beginning in 1988 in Farmington, bell ringers have helped to raise money to support agencies that meet basic needs for people in St. Francois County. The Salvation Army first approached community leaders in Farmington to ring to benefit the Farmington Ministerial Alliance and St. Vincent de Paul food pantries. A few years later, under the name of the Farmington United Fund, Inc., the program expanded and continued to include more agencies once the Farmington United Fund became the United Way of St. Francois County. Now, the money raised through bell-ringing will go to the 25 agencies to which the United Way has pledged to give $135,000 in grants in 2010. One of those agencies is the Salvation Army, which gives the money back to St. Francois County to help people with utility bills and other needs.

Collecting donations at the Wishing Wells is just one way to donate to the United Way of St. Francois County. Diners donate every Thursday through Nov. 19 when they eat a meal at a restaurant that has pledged to give a portion of its receipts for the day to the United Way. On this Thursday, it’s Long John Silver’s/A and W. On Nov. 12, Pasta House is the Dine Out restaurant and on Nov. 19, dine at Huddle House in Bonne Terre, Farmington and Leadington and a portion of the bill goes to the United Way of St. Francois County.

“It all adds up,” said Faircloth. “Donors can also give online through Pay Pal or credit card at our Web site: www.unitedwayofsfc.org . We appreciate every donation because it all goes to help people in need right here at home.”

One-hundred percent of every donation received from individuals goes to the agencies the United Way has pledged to support. Administrative costs are paid through the generosity of special corporate donors. The United Way estimates one in four people in St. Francois County benefits from a service provided by one of the agencies it funds. In addition to the Salvation Army, in 2010, those agencies will include the county’s four senior centers; Caring Communities in Central, West and North counties; the Bonne Terre and Farmington Ministerial Alliances; St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantries in Desloge and Farmington; the Bismarck Church of God Food Pantry; Elvins Food Pantry; Parkland Pregnancy Resource Center; Helping Hands of Southeast Missouri Mental Health Center; St. Francois County Children’s Dental Health Clinic; St. Francois County Community Partnership; SEMO Family Violence Council; L.I.F.E Center for Independent Living; Parkland Foster Adopt Families; Farmington Meals on Wheels for Special Diets; Habitat for Humanity of St. Francois County; East Missouri Action Agency Back to School Program and Young Faith in Christ.

 

 

 

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