In this season of Thanksgiving, as we enjoy family and friends and give thanks for our many blessings, we hope you will join us in remembering those in our community who are struggling.

For many of our friends and neighbors, the holidays will hold little magic this year.  Each day they struggle to pay the bills, to have enough to eat and a safe place to live. Right now a record number of people are losing their homes, falling behind on utility bills or coming up short at the grocery store checkout.

Yet, as we walk through Beaufort neighborhoods, stroll down Hilton Head beaches, drive down the oak-shaded country roads of Ridgeland, we are so thankful to live in such a wonderful place ... a place where people are generous and help one another.

A $2.8 million campaign is under way to support 44 local agencies and programs. They count on your generous gifts to United Way to help them meet unprecedented increases in needs. These agencies and programs provide a safety net that gives those in need a helping hand, but the hand is sometimes coming up empty because they have had severe reductions in funding.

When we all  LIVE UNITED in the Lowcountry we can create lasting change in basic needs, education, health and financial stability.

Your help is needed today! You might think your gift is unimportant or won’t make a difference.  Every dollar counts. You can send your gift or pledge today, or you can give or pledge online at www.uwlowcountry.org.

We are thankful on this November day that we can help others and hope that you will do the same. Please give generously.  For more information or to make a contribution please call 982-3040.

<strong>Clarece Walker, President</strong>

<strong>Peter Post, Chairman of the Board</strong>

<strong>United Way of the Lowcountry</strong>