Thumbs up

Once again, the generosity of the Mankato community has shown itself in the recent news that the Greater Mankato area United Way has reached its $1.93 million goal.

Individuals upped their contributions from last year and 39 new companies launched employee giving programs, and some 88 companies increased the amount they give. The United Way not only reached its goals, but donations were 3.5 percent ahead of last year, or an average gain of about $10 per person.

The Mankato area has long earned the recognition of donating more to United Way than almost all other United Ways in cities our size. That’s a worthwhile recognition we should all take pride in.

As a result of the fundraising, the United Way will be able to fund 60 programs across 39 agencies. Several important programs like the YWCA’s Girls on the Run program, BackPack Food Program and the YMCA’s  School-based Mentoring Program will see an increase in funding.

As more and more government programs are cut, the community fundraising efforts like the United Way will become more important to filling community needs.



Military support group helping

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To the South Central Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Network for their efforts to help local families who have fathers or mothers deployed in the military.

Organizer Matt Little says the volunteer group, established last July, has so far helped about a dozen families including helping repair a roof, by getting a contractor to do it for cost. They helped a mother of twins work out a better deal to get her kids on the school bus at a lower cost. Another needed a costly car repair and the group worked to help her get it for cost.

The group hopes to get recognition this spring from Gov. Mark Dayton as a military support organization. The group also held the Tee it Up for the Troops fundraiser last year that raised $5,000.

The Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program shows that ordinary citizens working together can provide the help needed that government programs sometimes can’t reach.



Dentists give community reason to smile

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To the local and area dental offices that are participating in the 10th annual Give Kids a Smile program that helps children from low income and needy families get a dental check up that many would not otherwise be able to afford.

Dental health is important but often becomes a luxury for families stretched for money. The nationwide program has enlisted the help of thousands of dental offices nationwide to provide needed care. The donated care will most likely go a long way to helping kids have decent dental health.





Tweten a feel-good story for Mankato area

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To Mankato West High School student Shelby Tweten and her successful audition on “American Idol,” a proud moment not only for her and her family but also for our community.

The North Mankato resident impressed all three of her judges on national television Wednesday night, earning her the right to move on in the competition. Next stop: Hollywood, for more auditions.

Tweten’s personal story was featured on Wednesday’s show. She discussed, at her mother Karrey’s side, her bipolar disorder and depression while images of south-central Minnesota rural scenes were shown to viewers.

“American Idol” is one of America’s biggest shows. It will be exciting to see how far Shelby can go. Whatever happens, she’s already a winner.

 

More gardening choices

Thumbs up, thumbs down

OK, this is a tough one. Sort of a “thumbs up” and “thumbs down” on the fact the U.S. Department of Agriculture is redoing the widely used planting zone map for the United States.

The maps, ubiquitous on the back of garden seed packets, show different plant tolerance zones using a variety of colors. The map helps gardeners know what perennial plants will survive the harsher cold weather in Minnesota, compared to, say, southern Missouri.

The USDA is redoing the maps for the first time in over 20 years because global warming is allowing those of us in the northern climes to try plants that may not have survived when the coldest winter temperatures were colder.

You won’t find a gardener that’s not a little excited about being able to plant flowers, shrubs and trees that wouldn’t have survived here before. Big “thumbs up.”

Of course, the reason for the change is because the planet is warming because, at least in large part, we burn too much fossil fuel. That warming trend will continue bringing us more erratic weather, droughts, rising oceans and other problems. Big “thumbs down.”