DC United Way hosts 2027 campaign luncheon

2027 Campaign Chair for the Darke County United Way Katie Luce speaks on the impact United Way has in Darke County. Brittany Hill | Daily Advocate Big Brothers Big Sisters Executive Director April Brubaker thanks Darke County United Way for supporting their organization. Brittany Hill | Daily Advocate Lead Pastor Wes Lynch, at Radiant Lighthouse Church, speaks on volunteering for the Christmas Day Dinner event. Brittany Hill | Daily Advocate The director of Miami Valley Community Action Partnership, Darke County Office, explains how they help individuals in Darke County. Brittany Hill | Daily Advocate Laura Price, director of Fish Choice Food Pantry, thanks United Way for their help. Brittany Hill | Daily Advocate EverHeart thanks United Way for helping them provide care to patients in Darke County. Brittany Hill | Daily Advocate By Brittany Hill DailyAdvocate.com GREENVILLE — On Wednesday, Sept. 2, the Darke County United Way hosted its 2027 campaign luncheon. During this event, the 2027 Campaign Chair for the Darke County United Way, Katie Luce spoke about the impact that Darke County United Way makes in Darke County. She said, 'When I joined United Way five years ago, I don't think I fully understood the needs in our Darke County community. I knew there were needs for housing, education, resources, and support. But I didn't truly understand how significant these needs were and how many people in the community were affected by it. I really appreciate the incredible organizations, volunteers, and individuals who dedicate their time, resources, and expertise to address these needs. Through my time serving the Allocation Committee and Board of Directors I have had the privilege of seeing these needs firsthand and seeing the incredible difference that can be made when a community comes together. That is what makes the Darke County United Way so special. So, on behalf of everyone at the Darke County United Way, especially to those who benefit from the workings done in our community, thank you.' The Darke County United Way invited April Brubaker from Big Brothers Big Sisters, Wes Lynch from Radiant Church, Megan Campbell from Community Action Partnership, Laura Price from Fish Choice Food Pantry, and Erica from EverHeart Hospice to speak. Brubaker is the executive director at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby and Darke County. She spoke on how the support looks from their organization. She said, 'It looks like a child sitting down for lunch at school with a mentor who shows up just for them. It looks like a Little who can't wait to tell their Big what happened since the last time they were together. It looks like fishing trips, walking in the park, exploring the county, ball games, homework help, conversations, laughter, and just having someone there who listens. We don't ask bigs to have all the answers; we ask them to show up. To listen, to encourage, to be a more caring adult or high school student in the life of a child.' Brubaker added that this is all possible with the support from Darke County United Way. Lynch is the lead pastor at Radiant Church in Greenville. He spoke, during the luncheon, about the annual Christmas Event. This event is a dinner, which is held on Christmas Day. They provide individuals with a meal, seeing Santa Claus, and gifts for children. He said, 'On Christmas Day, we offer a free meal to anybody in the community; doesn't matter what your income is or your age, it is just a free meal. There are a lot of people who are home alone on Christmas. We want to bring hope and encouraging to someone, not just with a personal relationship with Jesus but with a Christmas dinner meal. Last year, we served, in person 475 meals and delivered approximately 300. So, you are looking at about 800 people.' He said if anyone wanted to volunteer with this event they are more than welcome to work a little bit or the whole time. He mentioned that with Darke County United Way and others they would not be able to do these kinds of events. Campbell, director of Miami Valley Community Action Partnership's Darke County office, spoke on the involvement they do in the Darke County community and how their mission at Miami Valley Community Action Partnership is to help individuals in the community eliminate the causes and conditions of poverty. She talked about them operating emergency housing and support for individuals in the Darke County who are experiencing homelessness. She said, 'We are able to assist individuals with first month's rent and deposit for housing.' She ended that Darke County United Way's support makes it possible for them to help individuals in Darke County. Price, director of Fish Choice Food Pantry, thanked everyone, including Darke County United Way, for supporting her organization and all the other nonprofit organizations. Price said, 'If no one has heard of Fish, we've been around here in Darke County for 59 years. It started in a little closet. But now we are a big choice pantry. You think of other food pantries, you usually think of shelf safe items. But we try to offer everything and all the healthy options.' Price then spoke on their annual food drive called Feed Darke County and doing the parking at the Illumination Festival. The last speaker was Erica from EverHeart Hospice. She started by thanking everyone from EverHeart Hospice and added they are grateful to Darke County. She explained the support from the United Way is more than money. She said, 'It directly impacts the patients and their families we service every day. It allows us to provide comfort and support during pain moments in some of our lives' most difficult journeys. At EverHeart, we believe every patient deserves care that is as unique as they are.' She stated that with support from the United Way, this makes it possible for them to do events, activities, and care for the patients here in Darke County. To contact Reporter Brittany Hill, email [email protected].