Dundee United Fund begins 59th campaign

DUNDEE--The 59th annual Dundee Area United Fund Campaign has begun accepting donations from the community to reach a $25,600 goal for this year. The money raised this year will go to benefit 15 area organizations.
"We emphasize raising funds for organizations that serve the Dundee area," said Campaign Co-Chairs Carrie Wood and Joan Washburn. "These volunteer groups work hard to assist our community. By giving to the United Fund, you have the opportunity to aid 15 different agencies with just one check."
The distributions of funds raised will be as follows:
• The Dundee Library, Christmas for the Needy and Dundee Youth Center will each receive $3,200.
• The Dundee Area Historical Society, $3,000.
• Dundee Meals on Wheels, $2,600.
• The Yates County American Red Cross, $2,500.
• The Dundee Children's Center, $2,000.
• The Dundee Food Pantry, $1,500.
• The Retired Senior Volunteer Program, $1,000.
• Our Town RoCKS and Safe Harbors of the Finger Lakes will receive $750 each.
• Yates Youth Services, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will each receive $500.
• Literacy Volunteers, $400.
"These funds are very important to us," said Segrid Dombroski of the Dundee Library. "In the past, it has helped us get new computers, and along with a grant to get four iPads for the children's room. Our plan for this year is to keep increasing the technology at the library."
Dombroski added the library plans to continue to use the funding for technology upgrades this year, adding one of the programs they are considering allows library patrons to rent out an iPad.
Donna Johnston with the Christmas for the Needy program said the funding from the United Fund goes toward things like books, clothing and toys for area children. She noted the funding is much needed, as some places have rejected their requests for funding this year.
"We are always in need of funding," Johnston said. "It isn't quite as good as it was last year."
The Dundee Area Historical Society also emphasized the United Fund's importance, adding the funding goes toward enhancing programming as well as their online presence.
"The United Fund is very important to the Dundee Area Historical Society," Executive Director Terri Grady said. "It provides us with the funds to make educational programs available to the community, as well as a website and Facebook page trying to increase awareness of the area's history."
The fund will donate 96.5 percent of the money raised to 15 community organizations serving the Dundee area. The only cost incurred by the group being postage for the mailing sent out to residents this September asking for support.
Residents can mail their donations to Dundee Area United Fund, P.O. Box 15, Dundee, N.Y., 14837. Checks should be made payable to the Dundee Area United Fund.