Local residents who were interested in learning more about the United Way of Cullman County and how it helps support its 17 partner agencies got the chance to see a few of them up close on tours this week.

The tours are an annual event for the United Way, and the name for this year’s tour is “Seeing is Believing,” said United Way of Cullman County Executive Director Becky Goff.

“United Way believes that if we can get the community out to see some of the work that our agencies are doing, it will give them the opportunity to understand and connect with United Way’s network of partner agencies,” she said.

The tour included stops at the Pilot Light Home, the Cullman County Commission on Aging and the Good Samaritan Health Clinic on Tuesday, with additional stops Wednesday at Hope Horses, Cullman Caring for Kids and the Cullman County Center for the Developmentally Disabled.

Many of the guests on the tour had never been to any of the organizations that were being visited, so this let them have a look at where their donations are going when they give to the United Way, Goff said.

“They’re right here in our community, and many people may not have had the opportunity to see first hand,” she said. “You get to see where your money’s being spent, who is benefiting from it, how it is being used, the community that’s benefiting and you’re learning how you can be a part of it.”

Goff said getting people out into a few of the United Way’s partner agencies also shows them the good that those organizations are doing in the community while also highlighting their needs.

There are a lot of nonprofits in Cullman County that are working to help the community, but most people don’t have the ability to support each of those, but a donation to the United Way will help support each of its partners and all of the people that they help, she said.

“If you’re like me, you have limited resources, and I can’t give lots to everybody, but you can make one donation and impact thousands in our community,” she said.

The United Way is also gearing up for the beginning of its 2019-2020 campaign as well as its annual Day of Caring.

This year’s Day of Caring is set for Sept. 11, and volunteers are still needed to help out with community service projects such as yardwork and landscaping at several local organizations, collecting food or supplies for nonprofits or building wheelchair ramps for local residents who are unable to do so.

“There’s still lots of projects that need help,” Goff said. “It’s a great way for groups of people to get together and give back.” 

The Day of Caring is not limited to the United Way’s partner agencies, and there have been several other local nonprofits that have reached out to ask for volunteers, Goff said.

For a list of each Day of Caring project or to sign up to work, visit the events section of the United Way of Cullman County’s Facebook page.