By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Erin Hachtel is a big believer in community connections and their ability to change lives.
Hachtel has seen how those connections make a difference in her past positions as branch director of the American Red Cross, director of programs and outreach at First United Methodist Church, and most recently working with an environmental consulting firm in Ann Arbor.
And now as the new area director for United Way of Wood County, Hachtel has the chance to make more community connections that will help people in her city of Bowling Green.
“I was really excited to come back working in a role directly in the community,” she said.
Hachtel, the only full-time employee for the United Way office at 111 S. Main St., Bowling Green, is accustomed to volunteering with organizations like Project Connect, the local food pantry network, and the Wood County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board.
Her goal is to look at the “big picture” to link people with services, “to make a safe, healthy and prosperous community.”
It’s United Way’s job to help hook up people with resources that can help them. And this year the needs are great.
In addition to the long-term challenges faced by Wood County residents, the COVID-19 pandemic has stretched the ability of many families to feed their families and pay their monthly housing costs. Hachtel sees those as needs that United Way can help fill.
“There are a lot of struggles around affordable housing and food insecurity,” she said. “United Way has those great connections for tackling community challenges.”
So United Way’s emergency response fund is in great demand.
“We want to catch people before they fall,” Hachtel said.
At the same time that needs are so great, the traditional modes of fundraising for United Way have had to be changed because of the pandemic. In the past, workplace campaigns were counted on to collect annual donations – but with more people working remotely, those fundraising methods have been replaced with other efforts.
Instead of employees writing checks at their workplaces, many businesses are looking for more hands-on ways to help their community, Hachtel said.
“Companies are looking for ways to connect with their community, by putting together things like hygiene kits, food drives or diaper drives,” she said. “They are looking at community needs and measurable ways of making investments in communities.”
In her new role with United Way, Hachtel can help match people who have time, money, or ideas with those in need.
The United Way office is also accepting applications for funding. The organization’s priorities for funding are programs that assist with early childhood needs, financial stability, housing and health. Applications can be sent to unitedwaytoledo.org/grants.
