Callaway County United Way took over half of the Fulton Walmart parking lot Friday afternoon for its 16th annual Radiothon and Campaign Kickoff. Representatives from several agencies funded by Callaway United Way, such as Callaway County 4-H, Central Missouri Community Action - Head Start (CMCA), SERVE and Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland, Inc., volunteered to run stations at the day-long event.
"This money is for them," Megan Fletcher, executive director for Callaway County United Way, said. "So they help make this happen."
This year, Callaway United Way's goal is to raise $280,000 and to allocate funds to 14 agencies, which provide more than 200 services and pro- grams that benefit thousands of Callaway residents every year. As of Friday early afternoon, United Way pledged about $134,430, Fletcher said.
"United Way is very helpful with the 4-H program and providing for scholarships and leadership training," Pam Heimericks, a volunteer with Callaway County 4-H, while she sat under a tent to sell homemade pie slices. "We are so appreciative of all their help - that way we don't have kids worrying about whether or not they can afford to participate or not. We can make sure that all kids get equal opportunity for leadership skills and camp scholarships."
Heimericks said 4-H team leaders always enjoy getting involved with United Way activities.
"Although they're 15 to 18, they were like "Please, I want to do something for my community and get involved,'" she said. "We want to nurture that and keep that going too."
4-H team leaders decided to bake homemade pies and sell slices like they've done the past three years at the event because people love picking out pie, Heimericks said.
Teressa Huskey, a volunteer with CMCA, helped inside a food truck to distribute fresh off the grill hamburgers, hot dogs and other food items.
"We want to be part of the community and a lot of people know who we are, but we want to support everyone," Huskey said.
Starting on September 14, several schools throughout the county competed in the penny drive for Callaway United Way.
All Fulton Public Schools and St. Peter Catholic School participated in the penny drives, along with North Callaway High School, and North Callaway elementary schools Williamsburg, Auxvasse and Hatton-McCredie.
Although United Way has not received the penny drive totals for every school, Fletcher said McIntire Elementary raised about $2,300 and counting this week.
Fletcher provided an overview of how United Way allocates funds to its agencies. She said each agency fills out an application and must go through an interview process. United Way board members determine which agencies receive funding by voting. During the process, the board also considers how much funding an agency requests and what each has requested in the past.
"A lot of it is who provides the most numbers helping Callaway County," Fletcher said. "It also depends on the service they're providing for Callaway County."
Fletcher added that agencies with a similar mission to Callaway United Way will be considered a priority to receive financial support.
"SERVE is probably the highest-funded agency and it trickles down from there," Fletcher said.
Besides the penny drive competition, United Way held an online and on-site auction with various items donated by local businesses. Fletcher said Central Bank donated two Cardinals jerseys.
The campaign kicked off with a live broadcast on the BIG 900 KFAL in the morning and a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Evening events included a 50/50 drawing, more barbecue, announcing auction winners and the annual Callaway Cruise car and motorcycle show fea-turing classic and modified cars, with trophies awarded to the people's choice winners.