As residents of Mid Coast Maine, we all have an opportunity to win a race.

Our campaign for our community — United Way of Mid Coast Maine’s fall campaign — is approaching its finish line.

We have not yet reached our goal.

Thousands of individuals and dozens of companies have already given, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Many people will get help when they need it in the coming year, because of your generosity.

If you have not yet pledged a contribution to this year’s United Way campaign — please do! Please think about the people in our own community who are struggling, all the good that can be done by United Way’s partner agencies, and join your hand with ours.

You can be part of feeding your neighbors who are hungry, keeping families from homelessness, providing companionship and rides to isolated elders, helping children get the best start in life, matching youth with mentors, and much more. Take a look at United Way’s website, www.uwmcm.org, to see how much your donation can do. You can even see 5- year-old Willow and 70-year-old Diane show you, in a short video, the difference United Way makes in their lives.

Our United Way campaign is about all of us, as members of this community, giving what we can to help our neighbors. It’s not about someone else giving, it’s about you! I ask you to be part of building a compassionate, healthy, strong Mid Coast community.

So, please, make a donation online at www.uwmcm.org, send a check to 34 Wing Farm Parkway, Bath, or call 443-9752 to arrange for a monthly or quarterly credit card, bank debit, or bill.

We need you! I’m asking you to help. If you give, you change lives. Thank you.

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Larissa Darcy is the United Way 2014 Campaign chairperson.