The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
CHANGING THINGS UP
United Way of Greater Oneida hosts drive-thru luncheon fundraiser
ONEIDA, N.Y. » The United Way of Greater Oneida’s Annual Kickoff Luncheon was held on Thursday, Sept. 17, albeit a little differently this year. Patrons picked up their bagged lunch in a drive-thru fashion on Mott Street behind the Oneida Vendor Mall.
Usually held at the Kallet Theater, this event is a vital fundraiser and awareness program for the United Way that brings the community together for a generous cause.
“There really was not an option of not having it,” said Denise Laube, United Way executive director. The event on average raises around $6,000, or about 5% of the organization’s funding. “We couldn’t afford to lose that.”
The United Way helps support 13 local agencies that offer services and assistance to those in need, and a chunk of money like that can go a long way. So when the pandemic cracked down on social gatherings, the United Way had to come up with a plan B.
Figuring out the logistics of hosting a luncheon with a raffle, during a pandemic, was a challenge. Together, the organization adapted and powered through.
Recent United Way Board Member Abbey Woodcock, also founder of Oneida Freelance Co-op, has a background in digital marketing and was able to put her skills to use as the event switched to a more virtual experience.
Online access to ticket sales and raffle entries was made available for the first time for the luncheon, which ended up selling 214 lunches, which is slightly less than average, Laube said.
“The one-piece that we are missing with today is that we always have a speaker, generally from one of the agencies that we support who talks about the agency and what services they provide and how much the United Way dollars help them to do that.”
— Denise Laube, United Way executive director
age, Laube said.
The raffle is ongoing, and tickets can be purchased online until Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 5 p.m. Both online purchases and in-person ticket sales from Thursday’s event will be hand-written and placed into a bucket. The 25 donated raffle prizes will be drawn for via Facebook live-stream on Sept. 24 at 11 a.m. on the United Way’s page.
This year’s large raffle prize is a Craftsman Shop-vac from Thompson Appliance and Furniture. Other raffle sponsors include Oneida Community Golf Course, Karing Kitchen, Bruce Stewart DDS, Smith’s Decorating, Giovanni’s Pizzeria, Hershey’s Ice Cream, Hair by Michelle, China King, Community Bank, Pepi’s Pizza, Gates-cole Insurance, Hipstir Cafe, Madison Bistro, Liberty Tabletop, NBT Bank, Dryden Mutual Insurance, and several United Way board members.
The lunch consisted of a turkey wrap, macaroni salad, chips, and a cookie provided by 31 Express Deli and Grocery. A bottled water also accompanied each meal.
“The one-piece that we are missing with today is that we always have a speaker, generally from one of the agencies that we support who talks about the agency and what services they provide and how much the United Way dollars help them to do that,” Laube explained.
In lieu of a speaker, a goodie bag with donated resources and materials from local businesses was provided with each lunch along with a list of sponsors. The Oneida City Fire Department donated mini hand-sanitizers for the cause.
Despite this being the first event of it’s kind and under wet and dreary weather, Laube says the luncheon was an organized success with the help of the kickoff planning committee co-chairs, Christine Jones, and Elaine Collins, as well as other board member volunteers. As residents drove up to accept their meals, Laube and volunteers greeted them with a friendly warmth still felt behind a mask.
Hosting the event in this fashion has come with its own set of pros and cons. The online sales portal and virtual nature of the raffle has made the event available to anyone, which has potentially boosted sales. Additionally, having tickets and lunches purchased online encouraged more online donations, Laube explained. The Kallet rental fee was also an avoided expense.
On the other hand, online purchases come with a processing fee, about 3%, that the United Way usually avoids, and there is of course no speaker this year or the camaraderie of sharing a meal with neighbors.
Despite the obstacles, the director said she’s confident that the combined funds from sponsorships, lunches, and raffle tickets will put the United Way right at their fundraising goal or even past it.
Leftover food from the luncheon is given to local food pantries every year. This year, approximately 40 unspoken-for lunches were donated to St. Patrick’s Food Pantry
Despite the obstacles, the director said she’s confident that the combined funds from sponsorships, lunches, and raffle tickets will put the United Way right at their fundraising goal or even past it.