Loal United Way Drive continues through Dec. 15

Adult Basic Education staff includes (from left) Julia Matson, child care volunteer; Jackie Miller, child care provider; Sarah Hoyt, volunteer coordinator;

"Choose to Care" is the theme for this year's United Way fund drive, which has a goal of $81,000 and continues through Dec. 15.

The following agencies benefit from your United Way contribution:

SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA ADULT BASIC EDUCATION

The Southwest Nebraska Adult Basic Education Program is a program that provides assistance with a variety of basic education skills to students free of charge. One facet of this program is the English as a Second Language Program located in McCook, Nebraska, which is coordinated through the McCook campus of Mid-Plains Community College. The primary objective of the ESL Program is to help individuals acquire, improve, and enhance their reading, writing, and conversational speaking skills in the English language. Contact person is Sarah Hoyt, Volunteer Coordinator, Culbertson, (308) 278-3178.

BOY SCOUTS

The United Way supports the programs and services of the Overland Trails Council, Boy Scouts of America in the McCook area. Scouting is a program of character development, citizenship training and personal and moral fitness development for boys first grade through 17 years and high school age young men and young women.

Scouting consists of Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Exploring, and Learning for Life programs.

The Overland Trails Council serves 44 counties of central and western Nebraska and has headquarters in Grand Island, with a western service center in North Platte. Contact Ned Freeman at (308) 532-3110.

GIRL SCOUTS

Girl Scout programs (Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadet, Senior) believe in providing girls with opportunities to achieve skills like self-reliance, self-competence, social skills, respect for others, feelings of belonging, concern for the community, teamwork, leadership, and values clarification and decision-making. These skills provide girls with higher self esteem, which results in making better decisions about drugs, alcohol, tobacco, sex, friends, violence, etc. In addition, volunteers and parents working with the girls benefit through increased quality time with their daughters and through development of their own skills. United Way makes a big difference in the lives of girls in the McCook and surrounding area. If interested contact Betsy Coolidge at 345-3464 or 1-800-984-3464 or 301 East 1st.