Giving to Starke United allows you to invest in the quality of life in your community - and make a difference in the life of someone else. Starke United is people you know helping people you love! Donations help show you care about your friends and neighbors, and can give those in need exactly what they need for a better life!

Just take a look at some of these great stories of how Starke United is working to better the lives of your community. Have a success story of your own to tell? Click here to tell us all about it!

Starke United & You….Doing What Matters!

Saving Lives!!!

Through your financial support, Starke United helps to support a wide variety of organizations throughout Starke County such as Healthy Families ABC Car Seat program.  Crystal Haschel stopped by to have her child's car seat checked at a child restraint system inspection event in June 2005.  The seat was improperly installed and also needed to be replaced.  A new car seat - just right for Kali - was installed.  With her second child on the way - Crystal was instructed in the proper method of installing two car seats in her mini van. In December, 2005 the unthinkable happened.  Crystal, with Lana and Kali safely secured in their car seats, was hit head on when a van crossed the center line of US35. Crystal received many serious injuries.  Lana and Kali survived the crash with only minor injuries.  The Haschel family credits Healthy Family's ABC Car Seat Program and Starke United for saving the lives of two precious little girls!

It is with a very grateful heart that I write to you to thank you for the donation you made to the Marshall Starke Development Center, enabling us to have one more month of transportation for the Starke County clients. Without the funds for transportation, most of the clients would no longer be able to attend the center.

Unless you are a parent of a handicapped child as I am, it would be hard for you to know how very much their attendance at the Center means to them. It is the one place where they are accepted for who they are and are given a chance to work at their own level of capability, and gain a sense of pride in their accomplishments and in themselves as human beings. It is so encouraging to know that there are people in Starke County who care enough about them to help them out.

Thanks again from a very grateful Mother.
Elaine W.

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to express how the gift of warmth I received last winter helped my family. I am so grateful for the funds provided to help families in their time of need. I am part of a low-income family with children, and we have struggled financially so many times throughout the years. There have been many times that I didn't know how we were going to make it. When I received the gift of warmth, it was during one of those times. I was pregnant after being told I most likely would never become pregnant again. Shortly after, my husband and I separated. Then, when my employer learned that I was pregnant, I was let go. I had no money, and that means NIPSCO didn't receive their money and they turned our utilities off. I was terrified for my children. I went and applied for emergency energy assistance and, thank God, the gift of warmth was added to the energy assistance amount until it totaled enough to get our service restored the next day.

I have always been a giving person, even as a child. I've raised my children to be the same way. I'd like to think we have kind hearts for others. Even though we don't have much money ourselves, we've often been on the giving side of things. We've learned of others doing without food and we fed them. We've learned of others with nowhere to go and we opened our home to them. There have been times we knew someone was sick and couldn't afford their medication and we helped. We give of ourselves to the elderly whenever the opportunity presents itself. I believe, and my kids agree, that God is the one putting every act of kindness into action. Everyone has the ability to be a part of his charitable ways, it's just a matter of us allowing him to help us be better people. We believe that if you help others in their times of need, then you'll surely be taken care of in yours. So the gift of warmth helped my family in more than one-way: financially, of course, but also morally. It helped my children to have faith that the kindness you pour out will find it's way back in your life to some how work for your benefit. It may not appear in the same form but it will come back to you.

Thank You
Unsigned client of the Council on Aging

Starke United provided $2,500 last year in funds that the Council on Aging was able to match with NIPSCO's Gift of Warmth dollars, to increase the number of families that they were able to help.

I am a mother of four healthy children. I am thankful that none of my children were injured or killed in an accident when they were young. When my children were young, there was no Starke United or certified technicians to make sure my children were safe in both their car seats and that the car seat was safely installed in the car.

In addition to being a mother, I am a certified car seat technician and am well aware of the terrible injuries and deaths that can be prevented with proper car seats and proper installation and use. Starke United generously supplied Healthy Families with car seats for Starke County residents. The only requirement is that one of our certified technicians properly fits the seat to the child and the seat to the car in which the child rides.

Starke United provides Healthy Families with 3 different car seats so that all children in Starke County can ride in a vehicle safely.

As an employee of Healthy Families and Starke Memorial Hospital, I am around of the generous gift that Starke United gives to the children of our community. As a car seat technician, I know this gift prevents injury and saves lives in Starke County. Lastly, as a mother, I take very seriously the unbelievable gift of safety that Starke United offers to the children of Starke County. Starke Untied cares about the safety of the children that are the future of Starke County. Thank you Starke United.

Sincerely
Dee R.

At a very difficult time in my life, The Caring Place staff came to my rescue. I met with an advocate to discuss the marital problems that I was having. They were affecting my health and my ability to hold down a job. The advocate talked with me and gave me information that provided the support and education that helped me realize I was in an abusive no-win situation that would not get any better unless I acted to change things.

Although I recognized the seriousness of emotional and verbal abuse, financial pressures started mounting, which made it necessary for me to consider staying with my husband. I had separated from him and had an apartment, but it was too expensive to maintain on my income. Most women in my situation cannot afford to live that independent lifestyle because of finances. I once again spoke with The Caring Place staff. I listed to them speak at a community education program about abusive relationships. I was a reporter and covered the story, but, of course, I had more than a passing interest in what was said at the meeting.

The staff talked with me at length before and after the program. Later, I received a call telling me about a transitional house for victims of domestic violence. I applied and was accepted into the program. I stayed at Phoenix House for almost a year. Through that help, I was able to get an apartment and obtain a wonderful job - teaching adults in a literacy program. During my stay at Phoenix House, I was given opportunities to learn computer skills and participate in other educational classes.

I appreciate all that was done for me and feel that both The Caring Place and CADA (Phoenix House) meet real needs and provide protection and support to help clients make a new life. I am grateful for what was done for me and know that if I had not had the education about abusive relationships and had I not been given a chance to stay at Phoenix House, the outcome could have been a very sad one. However, I have a new beginning with much promise.

Unsigned

Healthy Families has had a very positive influence on me. The Family Support Worker who comes to my home has been there to listen to and support me and my kids for the past year. She gives me great ideas for interacting with my son and daughters. She has encouraged me when I was unsure, listened to me when I needed to vent, been my cheerleader as I worked towards my goals, and my sounding board as I tried to figure things out. It is truly wonderful to have someone to completely trust with my thoughts and feelings and not have to worry about anyone else being told. I trust her with my privacy. She always points out my positive aspects and never my negative. With the encouragement of my Support Worker, I have accomplished my goals of getting a house and a job closer to home. My kids and I look forward to her biweekly visits. Besides my goals, she has assisted me by getting me a car seat for my son and a booster seat for my daughter. I would like to thank Healthy Families and all who support their organization for all that they have done!

Thanks,
Diana D.

I first contacted The Caring Place when I decided to separate from my husband. They were very helpful through the whole process of the divorce. They showed support by attending all of the scheduled hearings with me for the divorce and custody case.

A few years have passed, and my life is totally different now. I still meet with the advocates at The Caring Place and have attended the support groups they have offered. They are still very helpful and supportive in my life with decisions that I make.

I am now a full time student at Ancilla College, and The Caring Place acts as my sponsor through an organization that provides scholarships for tuition for victims of domestic violence. Without the help of the advocates at The Caring Place, returning to school would not have been possible for me.

Even though it has been a few years since my divorce, The Caring Place has been an important aspect in my life and I know that will continue in the years to come.

Unsigned

The Caring Place and the Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (CADA)/Phoenix House receives funding through Starke United.

Dear Friends:

It is a real pleasure to discuss with you the impact your dollars have had on the success of our program during the last two years. We are presently in our third year of existence and were founded to give assistance to the needy in our own back yard, namely, North Judson and San Pierre. During our second year, we received many calls from areas throughout the County. It was then we hoped Starke United might have emergency funds to assist us with funds to serve in the new extended effort. So far during this year, we have helped over 86 families with a number of crises. One family needed an air conditioner because their baby couldn't stand the heat in their home. We were able to help in that effort. Numerous requests for assistance in rent and utilities have been satisfied thanks to the moneys received from Starke United, and it mattered not if the families lived in Knox, Ora, Grovertown, or elsewhere in Starke County.

The efforts of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, SS. Cyril & Methodius Conference are to us an apostolate; but, without your generous assistance, we could have not nearly been as successful as we have been. You have helped do God's work on earth and we, your brothers and sisters, thank you.

Very truly yours,
Frank S.