Monday was a new day for the United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County – in more ways than one.
The group introduced its new campaign chair and got a sneak peek at a new website at its board of directors meeting.
Directors recognized Chris Hitechew – director, Northeast State Community College at Elizabethton – as the 2014 campaign chair.
Hitechew said he hopes to be able to put his energy into helping the organization reach its $160,000 goal.
Hitechew grew up in Carter County, and he said he feels his familiarity with the community will help him motivate individuals to donate and volunteer.
“One of the things I really hope to do is to inspire people to give and to get involved,” he said. “It is not about meeting a goal, monetary-wise, but to see that these people we serve needs are met.”
Also during the meeting, Board President Candy Craig revealed the first United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County website. The website is still under development and is not yet available to the public.
Craig said the website is being created to serve as an information funnel, so individuals can visit and easily access information about upcoming invents as well as find information on how to donate and volunteer.
“It is a work in progress,” she said. “Once it is finished, I feel as if it will be something that all of the agencies will be proud of. It is a resource tool for our community and a big benefit for our local United Way.”
The organization will support nine agencies in 2015: Adult Day Services, the American Red Cross, Assistance and Resource Ministries, Contact Ministries Inc., Elizabethton Senior Citizens Center, the Elizabethton Boys and Girls Club, the Boy Scouts-Sequoyah Council, Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency’s Elizabethton Neighborhood Services Center, and First Tennessee Human Resource Agency’s Personal Support Services.
Representatives from each agency attended Monday’s meeting and discussed what services their agencies provide and what goals they hoped to meet.