New Richmond Middle School - People's Choice Award & Most Items Used in Sculpture

Throughout the month of October, organizations participated in United Way St. Croix Valley's United We Can contest to help end hunger in the St. Croix Valley and to kick off United Way's fundraising campaign. Each organization used nonperishable food, paper products and personal care items to create a unique sculpture. The items were donated to the organization's local food pantry upon completion.

United Way asked each organization to submit a photo of its sculpture before donating it so participants could be recognized for their creativity, number of items used and more. The final award was the People's Choice, which was voted on via United Way St. Croix Valley's website Nov. 3-Nov. 9.

United Way St. Croix Valley would like to thank all participating organizations for donating more than 3,500 food, paper and personal care items to food pantries throughout the area.

"We're really pleased that in our first annual contest we received so much enthusiastic and creative participation," United Way St. Croix Valley Executive Director John Coughlin said. "I'm sure the local food pantries are grateful for this additional food," he continued.

Congratulations to the United We Can winners:

- People's Choice - New Richmond Middle School; Runner Up - Hudson Middle School
- Most Items Used in Sculpture - New Richmond Middle School with 1,689 items
- Most Protein Items Used - Willow River Elementary Student Council with 100 items
- Most Creative - The Deerfield
- Best Promotion of Your Business or School - Taoist Tai Chi Society Midwest Branch
- Best Use of the "Live United" Message - Somerset High School
- Best Monetary Donation to Item Donation Ratio - Larson Allen with $188 and 188 items
- Honorable Mention - Countryside Plumbing & Heating, Inc., Hudson High School, Hudson Prairie Elementary School, New Richmond United Methodist Church-High School Youth

View photos of all entries.

United Way is the kind of organization that helps people help other people. I really enjoyed volunteering at the two Day of Caring events. It was so fulfilling because we were able to help people directly and see how grateful they were for assistance with things they couldn't do on their own.

With the economy at a low point, many people are having trouble making ends meet and can't hire people to do things, which is why the Day of Caring is great. It's important to help in the community, especially in this economy. People should volunteer whenever they can; even the smallest thing helps.

- Dave Smith, United Way Volunteer

United Way St. Croix Valley helps fund programming aimed at rehabilitation and accountability for impaired driving.  The St. Croix Valley Restorative Justice Program (SCVRJP) offers Victim Impact Panels (VIP) for victims, offenders and community members.  Offenders have the opportunity to share their experiences and stories.  Individuals who have harmed others in traffic crashes have a huge debt to society.  One way of making that right is to speak at Victim Impact Panels.  Family members who have lost a loved one find telling their story helps with the grief process.  Community members can also volunteer stories and experiences as well as find meaningful volunteering by helping at Victim Impact Panels.

Wisconsin has the highest rate of drunken driving in the nation. Alcohol-related crashes killed 238 people in Wisconsin and injured nearly 4,000 in 2009. The SCVRJP program is aimed at getting people to make better decisions in the future.The stories are related to help people understand the emotional and social risk they are taking if they decide to drink and drive.

Since impaired driving cost the life of another, the panels are alcohol-free zones.  The River Falls Police Department and other area law enforcement agencies monitor participants as part of the program.  

United Way St. Croix Valley participated in GiveMN.org's Give to the Max Day on Nov. 16 and raised a total of $1,820, including dollars raised by a matching grant.

The money raised that day will go towards the final total in United Way St. Croix Valley's fall 2010 fundraising campaign. Funds will help support United Way's 70+ agencies in St. Croix, Pierce and Polk Counties, as well as in Northern Wisconsin.

Give to the Max Day was created to increase giving to nonprofits by engaging as many donors as possible in one day. All donations on Give to the Max Day were made through GiveMN.org, a first-of-its-kind giving website that helps people discover and support nonprofits in Minnesota and around the country.

Thank you for your support!