AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – On Friday, local community leaders and volunteers joined the staff and board of directors of the United Way of the CSRA to launch the annual fundraising campaign with the inspiring theme, “Imagine a Greater CSRA with Us.”

From now through March 2025, local businesses and groups will work to reach a fundraising goal of $2.4 million to support initiatives and programs that benefit the residents of our community.

Last year, the United Way of CSRA positively impacted the lives of 209,264 local people, and that number is expected to grow this year.

Immediately following the kick-off event, over 380 volunteers from various companies, including Club Car, SRNS, Aurubis, SRP Federal Credit Union, Clearwater Paper, Doctors Hospital and John Deere, contributed more than 1,500 hours of volunteer work at 28 project sites around the CSRA.

Projects included beautifying the facilities at the Girl Scouts and Child Enrichment, feeding needy neighbors at the Master’s Table, and cleaning the facilities at the Ronald McDonald House and the Salvation Army. This is the third year that the Campaign Kickoff and Project Serve have been combined.

During the event, Brittany Burnett, President of the United Way of CSRA, highlighted a critical issue that affects many in our community.

“More than 51% of households in our area are struggling,” said the MP. Many of them are employed and their income exceeds the social security threshold, but is not enough to cover basic needs.

Burnett highlighted the challenges these families face, as many live paycheck to paycheck.

During Project Serve Day

On Friday, volunteers met at their facility to support them in their work and find solutions to make the journey a little more pleasant for cancer patients.

Peggy and Mark Suber are from Macon, Georgia.

Peggy was diagnosed with cancer last November and is receiving treatment at the Georgia Cancer Center.

“It was great. Really and truly great. I got the best care anyone could ever get,” Peggy said.

Cancer Support Services is a nonprofit organization that provides housing, transportation, financial assistance and emotional support to cancer patients.

The Subers remain at their facility while Peggy undergoes chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

“It helped me a lot because I couldn’t afford to drive back and forth from Macon every day. We stay here Monday through Friday, then go home Saturday and Sunday and come back on Monday,” Peggy said.

Thanks to donors and volunteers, the services can be provided to patients free of charge.

Mark said: “It’s free. You don’t need a health crisis and then a financial crisis because some people have used up all their savings to get treatment.”

Volunteers came and showed their support for the organization by cleaning and gardening.

This is all part of United Way’s Project Serve Day.

Craig Tatum, a volunteer, said: “This is just a way for us to brighten up their day a little bit and make the place cleaner. It looks good at first, but it’s just a way for us to help.”

Volunteers were spread across CSRA and worked in different locations, but for Aaron McPhee, working at Cancer Support Services meant a lot.

“My wife had a brain tumor and was treated at Augusta University many years ago. She is in remission, which is very good, and has gone through radiation therapy, but all of these facilities do phenomenal work for the community,” McPhee said.

The Subers say they are grateful to the staff and volunteers and encourage others who need help to bring it here.

“I haven’t met anyone who wasn’t super nice. They’re all caring and that makes a big difference,” Peggy said.

As for Peggy, she still has a few weeks of treatment left and things are looking good enough that she may not need surgery.

Since January, Cancer Support Services has provided transportation to and from treatment for over 3,000 patients across the CSRA.

And this week alone they have offered accommodation to 36 people.

They always need volunteers.

You can be part of their outreach team, calling patients everywhere, checking on them, and helping with other projects.

To donate or learn more, visit their website.

To receive benefits, you will need a referral from a doctor.

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