T.M. Sinclair Society

2012 Co-chairs: Barb Klein, Rockwell Collins
James Klein, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust

We’ve been involved in the United Way Young Sinclair Society for about a decade now. Why, you might ask?

Because we see how United Way’s approach of looking at the community as a whole is helping a lot of people. United Way looks at the picture as a whole and looks for solutions that help as many people as possible.

In 2011 alone United Way dollars helped around 100,000 people through about 45 partner agencies and community partners.

We also feel inspired by the success stories that we hear. Jeffrey, the boy with an abusive father who found help through a partner agency. Larry, the man who was able find help for his children so he could earn a living. Brooklyn and Thea, the Girl Scouts who were able to learn skills they can use to be successful in life.

Then there were Shemarri and Shuron, two students in the Kirkwood Pathways for Academic Career Education and Employment program. The program is a partnership between United Way and Kirkwood and is trying to help community members learn the skills to get a job that pays enough to make ends meet. We know there’s a need for this program. In the initial roll-out United Way planned on 22 students per session but more than 90 applied for the last one. United Way knows there’s a continued need.

Did you know that more than 37,000 individuals in the United Way six-county services area are uncertain of where their next meal will come from? Nearly 16,000 (42%) of these individuals are eligible for food assistance through the state and receive an average of $4 a day to support their food needs. Could you imagine trying to eat on less than $4 a day? These individuals along with the nearly 21,500 individuals (58%) who are not eligible for food assistance need our help.

Don’t forget about United Way 2-1-1, which receives more than 50,000 calls for assistance a year. Last year, the number of calls where people couldn’t be helped almost doubled. Typically, that was the case because agencies had run out of money for a particular service.

We can all work together to help our neighbors and our community get stronger!

James and Barb Klein
Sinclair Society Co-Chairs