United Way adds two agencies

A new program will allow the Curry County United Way to stretch its donation dollars further, according to local officials.

All donations to the local office of the United Way will go directly to those in need with the help of a program called Corporate Cornerstone in which corporate donations will be used to cover the administrative and fund-raising costs of the United Way, said Erinn Burch, United Way executive director.

“It’s very exciting,” she said, “because we want our donors to feel confident that their money is making the biggest difference possible. Our donors can feel confident that their investment has the greatest possible impact in our community because every cent goes to local organizations and community building initiatives.”

“Every dollar donated goes that much further in our community,” she said.

United Way officials announced during Thursday’s Food Fest event that two new community agencies have been added to receive United Way support — Habitat for Humanity and Single Parents in Need (SPIN).

With the additional funding, the Eastern Plains Council of Governments will be able to expand a teen parent program to include single parents of any age.

Connie Millar, program coordinator for SPIN, homeless programs and teen parent program at EPCOG, said she was pleased to have her program under the United Way umbrella.

“I’m so excited about it,” she said. “Some programs just help teen parents, but the assistance stops at age 21. But with the SPIN program combining with these other programs, it will help these girls go back to school, get their degree or GED and get better-paying jobs. We have five girls in the nursing program at Eastern New Mexico University right now, so it’s working.”

Although the local Habitat for Humanity is based in Portales, “its charter has expanded to include Curry County,” Burch said.

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. It seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action, officials said

Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.

Habitat has built more than 125,000 houses around the world, according to the Habitat for Humanity International Web site.