By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

United Way of Ellis County is not where it would like to be at this point in its campaign, but there are several ways you can help the organization get closer to its goal this week.

You can join the United Way for fun at the mall during its annual Night of Giving, hop online to bid on some great deals in its annual auction or dine out at JD’s Chicken today.

Night of Giving will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Big Creek Crossing.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online or at the door. The evening includes, food, music, wine, shopping and a chance to win prizes.

“It will be an amazing atmosphere for families and groups of friends who want to shop and have fun,” Sherry Dryden, United Way, executive director, said. “And you get to know what the agencies do for all of us in Ellis County.”

All proceeds help support Ellis County’s annual campaign, which in turn supports local nonprofit partner agencies.

Last year’s partner agencies included the American Red Cross, Big Brother/Big Sisters, Catholic Charities, Center for Life Experience, Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas (DSNWK), Early Childhood Connections, First Call For Help, Hays Area Children’s Center, Options, Parents and Children Together, Salvation Army and Western Kansas Association on the Concerns of the Disabled.

Event-goers will have access to special discounts at mall stores. They can also enter their receipts to win a sapphire and diamond ring worth $1,212. The ring has been donated by Riddle’s Jewelry.

Event-goers can also participate in a scavenger hunt for a chance to win a gift basket full of items donated by mall businesses. Music will be provided by Complete Music Co., and Resurrection Vineyard will offer a wine tasting.

Each of the United Way’s partner agencies will be paired with a mall merchant, which is supposed to portray the mission of the nonprofit the business has been paired with. Those merchants will provide snacks for the Night of Giving participants. Event-goers can vote for the best decorated table.

Auction

There is still time to bid on items in this year’s United Way online auction.

Bidding ends at 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

Three trips are up for grabs this year: a trip for two to Puntacana in the Dominican Republic, a three-night trip for two to Sonoma Wine Country, and a trip for two to Chicago to watch the Tony-award winning musical “Hamilton.”

The trips are a cooperative offering between United Way and the travel agency, Westin.

You must make a minimum bid on the trips to qualify. The minimum bid on the Dominican Republic trip is $1,425 with a retail value of $2,808. The minimum bid for the Sonoma trip is $2,395 with a retail value of $2,863, and the Hamilton trip minimum bid is $2,195 with a retail value of $2,500. Airfare is not included.

The Hamilton show runs through May 26, and buyers have up to a year to book the other two trips.

Full descriptions of the trips are on the United Way website.

The auction offers many more items, including a Traeger grill, furniture, a $250 Ashley Furniture gift certificate, Tiger basketball season tickets, Royals tickets, a year’s family membership to the Hays Recreation Center, jewelry, clothing and a wide selection of gift certificates.

“There is something for everyone,” Dryden said.

People can get a sneak peek at some of the items available through the auction at the Night of Giving Friday.

The United Way raised almost $4,000 through the auction last year.

Campaign progress

The United Way has only raised 15 percent toward its $400,000 campaign goal. Last year at this time, the campaign was at 45 percent. Many of the United Way’s pacesetter businesses decided to wait to have their United Way drives during their insurance open enrollment periods this year.

That means the agency is still waiting to receive pledges from many of its regular contributors.

“We are a little nervous, but we are extremely hopeful,” Dryden said.

United Way offers a variety of ways to donate, which include a payroll deduction through your employer, online, by phone with at credit card by calling 785-628-8281, by mail at United Way of Ellis County, PO Box 367, Hays, KS 67601 or in person at the United Way of Ellis County office at the Hadley Center, 205 E. Seventh, Ste. 111, Hays.

Dryden emphasized the importance of United Way funding.

“A lot of agencies depend on United Way Funding for the services they provide. Without that funding, they would have to reduce their services, the number of people they serve or eliminate services they provide,” Dryden said. “It could mean agencies would have to close doors.”

The United Way will also continue to have its Dine-Out Days through the beginning of January. Dine-Out Day will be 11 am. to 2 p.m. today at JD’s Chicken. The Golden Q will host the following Dine-Out Day on Wednesday, Nov. 14. A portion of the restaurants’ proceeds go to the United Way.