This past week we had a host of Good Samaritans at the United Way office downtown Rocky Mount for our mid-campaign report, where we were able to announce exciting news with our fundraising efforts.  

Close to 75 individuals, who give back to our community in various ways, assembled in our lobby to hear about the extraordinary efforts of local companies, organizations and their employees.  

How humbling it is to see the faces and the passion of these folks who do so much to support our community.

Cummins-Rocky Mount Engine Plant employees were with us to announce that they had their most successful United Way Campaign to date, donating more than $470,000 to United Way and our community.  Through their tremendous employee participation, Cummins Foundation and corporate support, they have provided our United Way with the largest single contribution in our history.  The philanthropic spirit that Cummins and its employees embody is awe-inspiring.  

Boddie-Noell Enterprises through the years has supported United Way and so many charitable causes within our community.  

They announced a promotional effort within their Hardee’srestaurants to take place in early 2012 that will support our 60th Anniversary Celebration during Boddie-Noell Enterprises 50th Anniversary year.   

Their company embodies the spirit of treating people well, whether it is their employees or those within our community.  They certainly live by their motto that “we believe in people.”

Davenport Autopark also was on hand to show off a Honda CRV that will be given away to a lucky United Way donor in April 2012.  

What a generous spirit to provide such a large incentive for United Way support.  Many other companies and individuals were in attendance so we could celebrate their contributions.  Sara Lee Bakery in Tarboro and Eaton Corp. in Middlesex are just two more of the companies that step up each year to give back to our community through United Way.

As we move toward our fundraising goal of raising $1.26 million, currently sitting at 70 percent, we encourage our community to think about the lives that are changed through supporting charities like United Way.  

Like the Good Samaritans standing in the United Way office last week, we can all play a positive role in our community by giving back and encouraging a greater quality of life for our local residents and our entire Twin Counties region.         

Send us your stories of others doing good works in our local community, those individuals or groups that are positively changing lives.

United Way brings together people and resources to build a stronger community by raising more than $1.2 million each year.

They invest donations into impactful, local programs that are targeting pressing needs in our community, in partnership with 21 agencies, 41 health and human service programs, more than 500 volunteers and more than 10,000 donors who work to improve quality of life in the Twin Counties.  

Make sure and tell us your Good Samaritan stories by emailing gmohrbutter@rockymountnc.com, visiting  www.unitedwaytrr.org, or mailing it to United Way, 230 Sunset Avenue, Rocky Mount, 27804.  

Ginny Mohrbutter is the executive director of United Way Tar River Region, serving Nash and Edgecombe counties.