Editor’s Note: A United Front is a biweekly focus on the local agencies affiliated with the High Country United Way. Over the next year, The Mountain Times will attempt to feature every agency in due time. We encourage readers to consider supporting the United Way’s annual fundraising goal. 

High Country United Way’s mission is to improve the quality of life in the High Country by donating financial resources to organizations that work within the community to provide human and financial resources.

The organization has begun its annual campaign, with this year’s goal set at $625,000.

HCUW works with 30 organizations specializing in crisis, community and youth and family services. Out of those organizations, the Watauga County Chapter of the American Red Cross has benefited from the HCUW’s services for the past 50 years.

“In the past, the nature of that relationship focused on the United Way being a primary fundraiser, while the chapter concentrated on service delivery,” Sonny Sweet, executive director of the Watauga County American Red Cross, said. “Over the past several years, the relationship has taken new directions.”

Sweet explained that the past year’s allocation of the United Way revenue for the Red Cross represented less than 6 percent of the chapter’s budget. In the past, that number has been well over 50 percent. In part, this change is due to new revenue sources for the chapter, as it no longer requires the amount of financial support from HCUW as it once did.

“The end result of both organizations, however, has not changed, and that is to uphold our mountain tradition of taking care of our own,” Sweet said. “Other areas of partnership include receiving referrals from the Volunteer Resource Center, an organic agency of the High Country United Way. In addition, that office also provides professional training for members in terms of management know how and fundraising.”

Other community organizations the HCUW contributes to are: Blazing Saddles, Boy Scouts of America, The Children’s Playhouse, Girl Scouts of Western North Carolina Pisgah Council, Grandfather Academy, New River Behavioral Healthcare LME, Watauga County 4-H, Hospitality House, HHC, Appalachian Senior Companion Program, and High Country Amigos.

For more information, contact Linda Slade at (828) 265-2111.