DUBLIN, Ga. — United Way is a worldwide nonprofit that financially supports local communities, and other nonprofits. A few months ago, a local chapter that supports Bleckley, Dodge, Johnson, Laurens, Telfair, and Treutlen counties restarted their organization.
"So the Heart of Georgia United Way just lay dormant for a couple of years," Executive Director Denise Creel said. "And so that's what we're doing. We're re-organizing and re-energizing."
She said it was hard to keep the organization going during COVID-19, but a few months ago, they started bringing it back to help folks out again.
They've already hosted a few fundraising events, and they're currently running another fundraiser where people can purchase Christmas wreaths, centerpieces, collectibles and more for a donation to Heart of Georgia United Way.
Creel said they're already planning some events for next year, to support eight other nonprofits they financially support, on top of supporting local families with urgent needs.
"We're able to get them some help with food, get them help with their utilities, rent," she said.
Heart of Georgia United Way works as an umbrella group. The eight nonprofits they support are American Red Cross, Dublin-Laurens Teen Court, Heart of Georgia Healthy Start, The Salvation Army, Stepping Stone, The Lighthouse Adult Day Care, TLC CASA, and WINGS.
Joanie Reese is a nurse at The Lighthouse Adult Day Care and said they provide part-time, and full-time support to caregivers who need help with their family members.
"It's for any individuals 18 or older that if they would have a physical impairment, a cognitive impairment, or just someone that doesn't need be left home unsupervised," Reese said.
She said insurance doesn't always cover the work they do, so they supplement with grants, and donations from organizations like Heart of Georgia United Way to keep their clients happy and social at the day care.
"We try to keep them active. We take them outside, they walk laps, inside if the weather's cool, rainy," Reese said. "We'll do chair exercises, and just kind of keep it fun and keep them active."
They also make crafts with their clients, watch TV together, read books, do puzzles and more. She said at the end of the day, their mission is similar to Heart of Georgia United Way - helping people however they can.
"And it does, I believe, relate them back to being with their friends, or like in a work environment, like they're still able to come each day and not lose that," Reese said.
You can reach The Lighthouse Adult Day Care Center at 478-274-0003 and at lighthouseadultdaycare@gmail.com.
The United Way's Holiday House Christmas sale is happening throughout November and December behind Moore Street School on West Moore Street. Items range from $5-$60 and they accept cash or checks. All proceeds support Heart of Georgia United Way's mission to support their eight nonprofit partners.
You can reach Heart of Georgia United Way's line at: 478-353-1811 or stop by their office at the same location as the Holiday House, Tuesday through Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
