Sheldon, Iowa — The 2018 Sheldon United Fund Drive ended with over $31,000 to distribute among 21 different organizations. The United Fund board has released some information about how the funds were distributed.
Donors can decide how they want their donation distributed among the organizations, so the distribution is not equal among the organizations.
Lutheran Social Services of Iowa received $200. Receiving donations of $500 apiece were the Sheldon Boy Scouts and Sheldon Girl Scouts. The Sheldon Prairie Museum received $700. Compass Pointe (the alcohol and drug abuse treatment center) received $750. Sheldon Youth Activities Scholarships received $800. Noah’s Ark Preschool received $825. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library, the Foster Grandparent Program, Excellence for East Elementary, the Sheldon Ministerial Association, and Special Olympics Iowa each received $1,000. Meals On Wheels and the Sheldon Recreation Trails each received $1,500. Receiving $2000 donations were RISE Ministries and Upper Des Moines Opportunity. Sanford Sheldon Home Health & Hospice got $2,150. Family Crisis Centers of Northwest Iowa got $2,500. Receiving $3000 each, were Children’s World and Village Northwest Unlimited (for therapy equipment). And LOVE, INC. received $4,500.
The board emphasizes that the United Fund is separate from the United Way, and none of the money collected goes to the national United Way organization. They tell us that all of the allocations remain in the Sheldon area and are given to organizations that apply and receive board approval. After donor requests are honored, the rest of the money is evenly split among the organizations.
They say that the goal in both 2017 and 2018 was $31,000. In 2017 they raised $35,516 and allocated $33,300. In 2018 they raised $31,029 and allocated $31,425.
The United Fund board made its decision on allocations in late January and checks were distributed in February. The board tells us that funds are raised every year through donations from citizens and key firms. A key firm is a donation of $500 or more.
United Fund spokesperson Cindy Runger says, “We are very happy we exceeded the goal and that we have a chance to give out the money to organizations on the pledge card. Without everybody’s great support in this community, we would not be able to do it. Thank you very much to all the businesses and individuals for the contributions. They are greatly appreciated.”
