As the 2008 United Way campaign is close to the end, does Live United end?

Of course not! Every day we need to Live United. Does your neighbor need some help? Do we need to get some people together to complete a project for someone who is unable to do the work themselves? Do we need to get a food drive started at work to fill the shelves at the Salvation Army? Is there a kid in your neighborhood that would benefit by having a mentor?

As my mom, Sue Berg, and I, co-chairwomen for the Freeborn County United Way campaign, have been visiting many businesses, service clubs, and attending many activities, we have heard many stories of how people Live United. As we listen to some of these stories, we see a real need in this community for people to Live United.

On Friday, we braved the cold weather for Keep the Fires Burning in Freeborn County. We were at the intersection of Garfield and Main from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. We had buckets for people to drop in their pocket change, dollars, or a check. Ann Austin, Corrine Applegate, my mom, and I, along with United Way partner agency volunteers, stood outside, braving the cold and all the elements to raise money for our 19 partner agencies.

It was just another way to work together to lift people up during these hard times. Your donations give people a place to stay, food to eat, someone to talk to and a way to be involved in our community.

On Nov. 7 we had the Fountain Warehouse Liquor Wine Tasting & Silent Action. People purchased a glass for $15. Then they could sample many varieties of wine and a few beers. We also had many items for the silent auction. All of the proceeds went to the United Way. I would like to thank Ron Freeman of Fountain Warehouse Liquor for all his hard work.

Some of the other activities we have been asked to participate include being judges for baked goods and a chili feed, serving beverages at the baked potato fundraiser held at Thorne Crest, and eating Brunos’s corn dogs at two different fund raisers.

Our next event is the Bowl-a-thon. It will be held at Holiday Lanes on Dec. 6 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. We would like to have 20 teams of four (maximum). The cost is $100 per team. This covers three games and shoes. There will be many prizes including best bowling team shirts, ugliest bowling shirt, fun shots in alley, best team by score and worst team by score. That means you don’t have to know how to bowl to be able to win some prizes. This can be a fun family event.

Through all these events my mom and I have met and worked with some many wonderful people. It has been a real learning experience and we have had a lot of fun doing it. When we were first asked to be the co-chairwomen, we talked with some people about taking on this task. They all said, “Do you know how much work that will be?”

Yes, it has been work, but we have had a lot of fun too.

Currently we are at 53.7 percent or $317,863 of $592,000 needed. We have received so many contributions this year and so much support from the community. Thank you for all your help.

As our year ends we will continue to Live United. Underneath everything we are, underneath everything we do, we are all people connected, interdependent, united. And when we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all. That’s what it means to Live United.

Tiffany Hagen is a co-chairwoman for the fall campaign of the United Way of Freeborn County.