United Way project to benefit SOAR

To highlight the role that volunteers play in United Way's fund-raising and community building efforts, the Sisters community United Way campaign will kick off on September 14, with a volunteer work project at SOAR.

In conjunction with Deschutes United Way's fourth annual Good Neighbor Day, a local team of volunteers will do landscaping work and spruce up the Sisters Organization for Activities Recreation facility at 155 N. Locust St.

Volunteers will work from 8 a.m. until noon.

Good Neighbor Day marks the official kick off of the organization's annual fund-raising drive for human services. Approximately 200 volunteers from a variety of business and community organizations will paint, rake, plant and polish at community agencies all around Deschutes County.

"We thought a work project at SOAR would be an excellent way to kick off the local United Way fund-raising drive because it puts the spot- light where it belongs -- on agencies and programs, on people getting help," said Pat Neufeldt, who helped organize the Sisters work project. "Raising money is just the means to that end."

Joining Neufeldt on the Sister's area leadership team are Dave Sullivan and Jean Miller of Black Butte Ranch.

In order to take advantage of additional staff and media support, the Sisters campaign team chose to join the Deschutes United Way campaign effort this year rather than continuing under the auspices of the Redmond United Way.

This year's fund-raising goal for Deschutes United Way is $800,000. Last year's drive raised $765,000. The fund-raising campaign runs from September 14 through November 19.

For more information, call Pat Neufeldt at 549-4006 or Dave Sullivan at 595-2387.