By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Donors can participate in several fundraisers during the next couple of weeks to help the United Way reach its annual fundraising goal.
The United Way has brought back its Dine Out Days Raffle. Three buckets of gift cards will be given away with each bucket containing at least $400 of gift cards to area eateries. In all, $1,600 in gift cards were donated for the project.
"Those are donated by businesses and individuals," said Erica Berges, United Way director. "We are very appreciative of how the restaurants really get behind this all the years we have had it."
Tickets are $5 each or five for $20. Tickets can be purchased online by CLICKING HERE. They also can be purchased at the United Way office at 1200 Main, Ste. 102, or from a United Way board member.
The drawing will be Monday, Dec. 19, which has been moved back from the original drawing date.
In addition, the United Way will have a pop-up bar from 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Dec. 17, at The Strand in Hays. The Strand will be decorated to the nines for Christmas. The Press will serve holiday appetizers and finger foods, and a cash bar will be available with special cocktails for the evening.
Entertainment will include karaoke, live music, trivia and a photo booth.
Tickets for the come-and-go event will be $20. Only 200 tickets will be sold. Tickets can be purchased online. If tickets don't sell out in advance, there might be an opportunity to purchase tickets at the door.
United Way is one of the nonprofits that will benefit from visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus at Simply Charmed, 1011 Main, Hays, this holiday season. Families must reserve time slots. Dates still available include:
• 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16
• 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18
Cost is $5 per child, cash or check only. Reservations are required and can be made online.
Proceeds also will benefit the Hays Area Children's Center and Western Plains Animal Refuge/Humane Society of the High Plains.
This year's United Way campaign goal is $370,000, up from last year's goal of $350,000.
The United Way supported 15 local nonprofits in 2022. The deadline for 2023 funding requests was Friday. The Care Council will begin reviewing those requests in January.
Berges said the local campaign is about 50 percent to its goal, but many businesses have yet to turn in their pledges.
Donors have until the end of January to make their donations and pledges.
"We need everyone's help to reach that goal," Berges said. "Any amount, it doesn't matter. Nothing is too small."
Donors have multiple ways they can give. They can go to the United Way website and click on the donate button. One-time donations, monthly donations or purchase round-up options are available.
The round-up option automatically rounds up your purchases to the next dollar and transfers the change to United Way as a donation. Donors can set a maximum amount they wish to donate in this manner.
United Way also accepts donations through Venmo at @United-Way-of-Ellis-County.
You can bring a check in person to the United Way office at 1200 Main, Ste. 102, Hays. Checks can be mailed to PO Box 367, Hays, KS 67601.
You can follow the United Way events and campaign on Facebook.