To my friends that live in Troy, Ohio:

I need your help. Actually, I would like to request $5.00.

I am on the board of for the United Way of Troy and we are facing a challenge to meet our goal of raising $785,000. I am asking 200 of my friends and contacts to donate only $5.00 in hopes of raising $1000 for the United Way of Troy. All the money raised by the United Way of Troy stays in Troy, Ohio.

The United Way of Troy funds many of the social services in Troy that are literally a lifeline for many of our neighbors. (see www.unitedwayoftroy.org for a complete list of agencies that are funded by the United Way of Troy.).

One amazing agency the United Way of Troy funds is the St. Patrick’s Soup Kitchen. Few people are more grateful for your donation than Dick Steineman, Director of the St. Patrick’s Soup Kitchen. The soup kitchen is serving over 2,400 meals a month right now! That is up from 1,600 meals a month this time last year.

Partners in Hope, also funded by the United Way of Troy, provides financial assistance to families in crisis (among other services). The need is so great this year that they requested (and received) an emergency grant for $4,000. They were literally running out of money to help families in need. Partners in Hope can provide assistance to help pay an electric bill, a heat bill, or to help with rent for someone facing eviction from their apartment.

So, let me change my initial request. I’m not asking you to donate $5.00. I’m asking you to donate a plate of food that Dick Steineman can serve to someone that is hungry. I am asking you to help keep the heat on for a family facing a cold December night.

Finally, I am asking you to please forward information to everyone you know. Ask them to help. Our small donations combined can feed and help thousands of families right here in Troy facing challenges we all pray we never have to face.

Go to www.unitedwayoftroy.org to give online, or mail a check payable to The United Way of Troy, Ohio, PO Box 36, Troy, Ohio 45373.

Thanks
Rick

On Sunday, September 14, 2008 Hurricane Ike took a shot at Ohio. The rain was north and west of us, but the winds were amazing. In our area winds were up to 78 miles / hour. There was significant damage to homes and trees down everywhere. Check out this video:

In Ohio, over 2.5MM people were without power at some point including many of my friends and coworkers. I was driving to my companies plant in Hillsboro and took this picture of crop damage.

It may not be easy to see but the corn was blown over. I hope it is many years before we have another Hurricane in Ohio – and where is my ‘I survived Ike in Ohio’ t-shirt?