With Thanksgiving approaching in a few days, the United Way Board of Directors and staff would like to say THANK YOU to all of our volunteers, donors and agencies!

Thanksgiving is the time of year when you start to think about holiday presents for your children, parents, significant others, friends, neighbors and co-workers.

There are so many ways people can give back during the holiday season: make a donation in honor of or in memory of someone (the gift), sponsor a family for the holidays and volunteer. All of these options are acts of true giving during the holiday season.

"THE GIFT"- this is what United Way calls making a monetary donation in honor of or in memory of someone. You are impacting the lives of thousands of residents in Horry County when you make a donation in honor of or in memory of someone. When you make a donation in memory of someone, United Way will send a special card to recognize your contribution. When you make a donation in honor of someone for a special occasion such as a birthday, holiday or anniversary, United Way will send a special card to the person you have honored recognizing your contribution.

Sponsoring a family is another way to help during the holidays. Companies and individuals contact the United Way office asking about a deserving family in need during the holidays. These families are chosen by United Way agencies, which are guaranteed to be deserving families who are not on any other Christmas lists. The companies and/or individuals choose the number of families they would like to sponsor and all the information is given to the company/individual regarding the family and sponsorship.

Volunteering is also a huge help to United Way partners who assist so many in our community. For more information about volunteer opportunities, contact the United Way office.

Be assured that your acts of generosity are sincerely appreciated by the United Way and our agencies, as well as the many individuals and families they serve. We hope that as you explore these options, you will find a meaningful way to help others, which will lead to new awareness and new relationships that last long after the holiday celebrations are over.   Thank you and best wishes for a safe and peace filled holiday.