By Loren Jones
I just finished serving nine years on the CBJ Assembly, and during my tenure, I regularly witnessed members of communities across Southeast Alaska who needed support. Over those nine years, I attended Southeast Conference where I was able to listen to the concerns of citizens across the region firsthand.
What stands out to me the most is witnessing the way communities have responded to people in need in any way they can. One thing is abundantly clear, the citizens across our region are caring, giving and supportive of those who need assistance and help.
I am honored to be the Chair of this year’s United Way Annual Giving Campaign. I have been a supporter of United Way for over 40 years, first giving through my workplace in the State of Alaska Share campaign. And when I retired in 2003, I transitioned to giving as an individual donor.
United Way of Southeast Alaska is an umbrella agency for 35 nonprofits throughout Southeast Alaska. Giving to the United Way is an easy and important way to support many organizations across the region. When you contribute, you can designate which agencies will receive the funds or you can let UW make that designation. You can also choose to give to UW for its costs of providing services to other nonprofits.
Monthly donations can be made through your workplace giving campaign or through the UW website where you can make an online pledge for monthly deductions on your credit card. It’s a great way to grow those Alaska Airlines miles while you help United Way of Southeast Alaska and our 35 partner agencies strengthen the education, income stability, and health of our region.
The United Way has administered several programs in the past year to address local needs. One such program supported local restaurant businesses that were impacted by closures due to COVID. The United Way CARES Meal Program allowed restaurants in Juneau to serve meals “Three times a day, seven days a week for seven months, by the program’s conclusion on March 31, 2021, 23 Southeast Alaska restaurants prepared nearly 75,000 meals for people in need.”
• Loren Jones served three terms on the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly. He is a campaign co-chair for the United Way of Southeast Alaska.
