By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

If you live in Ellis County, you’re invited to attend one of three town hall meetings to be held this week by the United Way of Ellis County (UWEC).

The purpose of the meetings is to gather input from people of all ages and backgrounds for community goals and expectations when it comes to social and human services, according to UWEC Executive Director Sherry Dryden. Three core areas will be addressed–education, health and financial stability.

“For many years the United Way has taken feedback from other entities and from United Way worldwide. But we need to hear it from the citizens directly,” Dryden said. “This way we will be able to set our focus on areas that community members have experienced and see that we need to address.

“We are looking to have business professionals, moms, dads, grandparents, children, employers, employees, and social/human service agencies in attendance. Those who have received services, those who have given services, those who have given information for resources of services and those who are kind of aware of services but aren’t familiar with them, and yet they see other needs,” she added. “Really, anyone who has a concern in the social/human service area for Ellis County.”

The town hall meetings are scheduled for Tue.  June 6,  5:30-7 p.m.;  Thu., June 8, 8:30-10 a.m.; and Sat., June 10, 9-11 a.m. All meetings will be held in the Hays Hadley Center, 205 E. 7th St. in the first floor conference room. Directional signs will be posted.

Later this month, the United Way will conduct a community needs assessment survey as a result of the town hall meeting outcomes.

“We want to be able to address it by the time we do our 2018 campaign kickoff which will be at the end of August,” Dryden said. “This will help strengthen not only the United Way of Ellis County but also our 15 partner agencies, and open the door for other entities to have more of a collaboration overall.”