The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is here.

Monday, December 17, 2001

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is here. Selecting the right gift is important. The United Way of Freeborn County hopes you will consider giving the gift that keeps on giving by making your contribution for 2001.

In just two weeks the New Year will be upon us, so we hope you will join us to work together to make this year’s campaign goal. We celebrate and thank those who have helped us reach 93 percent, or approximately $466,000 of our $500,000 goal to date. And we encourage those who have not made a contribution to please do so. It will take all of us to help us achieve our 100 percent mark.

Your dollars will make a difference, so please call the United Way office, 373-8670 to make your investment in Freeborn County. Supporting the 16 agencies through your contribution is one of the best gifts you can purchase this holiday season. Not only will it help sustain and grow programs so important to our area, but ultimately will affect the lives of hundreds of people.

Congratulations to the following businesses who provided more than 100 books to our young people of Freeborn County through our literacy initiative: Streater, 174; Albert Lea Medical Center -&160;Mayo Health System, 124; and Schweigert, 115.

None of us ever know when we may be touched by the support and generosity of one of our agencies. Let’s make sure they can continue to be there for everyone to count on. Give the gift that keeps giving, the United Way of Freeborn County.

Pam Bishop is the 2001 campaign chairwoman for the United Way of Freeborn County.