By Rusty Nixon, Pilot News Correspondent

08/16/08 LAPAZ – It’s that time of year again: the kids are back at school, football is around the corner and the Marshall County United Way campaign is now officially under way.

The campaign held its kickoff luncheon at Occasions Banquet Hall in LaPaz, gearing up for the run to a goal of $500,000.

“This campaign is really about all the volunteers,” said this year’s Chairman Ed Ruiz in his remarks opening the drive. Those volunteers had a chance to hear from some of the agencies and individuals that are the reason for the campaign.

“It’s tough going from having something to having nothing,” said William Gaines, manager of the Yellow River Café and Iraq war veteran who received a helping hand on his return from the war from the Marshall County Neighborhood Center. “It can happen. I was told by the government to go eat in a soup kitchen until my veteran’s benefits came. There are a lot of people willing to lend a hand. I just hope it continues.”

Mia Johnson, who was devastated by a fire in June, had kind words for how another United Way fund recipient the American Red Cross had helped her.

“What I’ve learned is that there are people out there who really care,” she said. “I lost everything in a fire on June 8. People actually do have a heart.”

Ruiz outlined the efforts that have already begun with the annual summer fundraiser’s Ride for Marshall County, and Dine Out. He also pointed out that the campaign’s “Pacesetter Companies” had already shown an increase in giving from a year ago with Oliver Ford and U.S. Granules reporting 100 percent participation by their employees.

Jennifer Maddox, executive director of the United Way of Marshall County, had good news as well. United Way board members had decided to make an additional contribution above and beyond their normal giving – and 100 percent of them had backed their commitment.

Ruiz also challenged those assembled.

“What if everyone in Marshall County donated just one hour of pay a month to United Way?” he said. “Even if just 80 percent of the people in the community would do that we could raise $3 million. That makes our $500,000 goal achievable.”

Maddox also had some numbers for those in attendance.

“Studies show that 30,000 in the community have been helped by a United Way agency,” she said. “Let’s say that we actually helped just half that number, 15,000. That’s still nearly one third of our population, and we do it all for $30 a person.”