The news is not good – and coupled with continuing low employment, many programs that support families and children in need in San Juan County will be struggling to find needed resources. Programs that assure basic needs, help with pre-school costs, supplement working families, and provide educational, prevention and intervention programs will be turning to the United Way of San Juan County (UWSJC) for grant funding support.

Yearly requests come from over 40 different non-profits throughout the county and last year’s stated needs registered at nearly $189,000.00. This year an increase is anticipated, and the United Way’s goal is $200,000.

Through both general and designated donations, the UWSJC has helped in past years to fund vital work in the communities through such programs as the Lopez and San Juan Island Family Resource Centers, Orcas Family Connections, Primary Intervention Programs, Readiness to Learn and the Prevention Coalitions.

In addition to the annual newsletter and fall donation drive, the United Way is sponsoring a “CAN do it!” campaign to run through Dec. 31. Silver donation cans have been placed throughout the merchant communities on Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Island.

United Way is asking the community to support these outlets and to add some change to the cans.

“Every donation continues to support local strategic solutions to critical needs while helping to create long term solutions,” says United Way.

United Way of San Juan County keeps 99 cents of every dollar donated here, locally, in the San Juans.

Look for the silver cans at these and other locations:

Lopez – Sunset Builders, Lopez Library, Cafe La Boheme, Isabel’s Espresso, Lopez Pharmacy, Lopez Village Market, and Paper/ Scissors on the Rock.

Orcas – Orcas Store, Orcas Hotel, Darvill’s Books, Key Bank.

San Juan – Brown’s Home Center, Christie’s Hair Salon, Friday Harbor Drugstore, Nash Brother’s Sporting Goods, Islanders Bank, Whidbey Bank and Key Bank.

You can also visit www.unitedway-sanjuancounty.org to learn more about how you can help or if your business would like to sponsor a can.