Thanks!

Thanks to all the volunteers who made our third Paw Paw United Way Free VITA tax site a great success! We opened for free tax service to low income residents of Van Buren County from February through April. Hours of volunteers offered services with refunds exceeding $1.4M for people of Van Buren County.

Thanks to the following site Locations:

Lake Michigan College - South Haven
South Haven Senior Services - South Haven & Township Halls
Emmanuel Church of God in Christ - Decatur
GKAMA - Gobles United Methodist
VBC United Way - Paw Paw
Michigan Works - Paw Paw
Coke - Paw Paw
VBC Technology Center

United Way would like to thank everyone who supported our first annual Stuff the Bus county-wide food drive! Our local pantries have seen the need for their services more than double since this time last year, so this event was critical to get them stocked up and ready for the high demands of winter and the holidays.
The need is great but once again Van Buren County residents and businesses stepped up to help. Glenn Cowles of The UPS Store and Dondi Squires of State Farm Insurance helped offset a large share of United Way's expenses by co-sponsoring production of the banners used at our collection sites. The grocery store managers at Village Market, Wagoner's, Family Fare and Harding's Friendly Market welcomed our efforts and posted signs announcing the event.
Across the county, local school transportation managers arranged to station buses at their local grocery stores. The bus drivers, who volunteered their time, arrived on time and assisted the volunteers in placing our Stuff the Bus banners on their buses. The food pantry volunteers greeted customers, sorted food and re-stocked their pantry shelves.
The most delightful feedback I have received were the comments concerning Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan, who staffed the entrances of every grocery store all day. According to Dondi Squires, "The Girl Scouts I met with were very excited to help the community and the adults that I came in contact with were very appreciative." Glenn Cowles agreed, "The Girls Scouts were just delightful and so full of energy."
Everyone who came together for the good of our food pantries and those they serve truly embodied the United Way mission: LIVE UNITED. Thanks to each and every one of you who participated in United Way's Stuff the Bus! You should be proud to live in such a caring county.

Sincerely,

Vera E. Tanier
Executive Director
Van Buren County United Way