‘Operation Happiness’ Underway
United Way Helps Local Families Stretch Budgets During Holidays:

Without the United Way’s “Operation Happiness”, many families in Franklin and Grand Isle Counties would have a much harder time making ends meet this holiday season.

The average individual shopper plans to spend $417 on gifts this holiday season, according to a recent survey by the American Research Group. But according to the 2009 Community Needs Assessment - an annual report spearheaded by the United Way of Franklin-Grand Isle Counties - the two communities rank a combined third in the state for public assistance. The reality behind these numbers is simple… more and more families in Franklin and Grand Isle Counties will be hard pressed to afford a happy and healthy holiday this year.

The FGI United Way has recognized this difficulty and responded with Operation Happiness, its annual community initiative that provides local families with food and toys during the holidays.

“This year we have seen a large increase in the number of families calling for the first time, who never thought they would be in the position of having to ask for help,” attested Marilyn Billings, board secretary for the FGI United Way, who is chairing this year’s effort.

In 2007, a thousand local families were serviced during Operation Happiness; in 2008, that number rose to 1,100. This year, the FGI United Way hopes to service 1,200 families in the Franklin-Grand Isle area.

The United Way has already begun facilitating and organizing food drives to meet growing holiday needs this year. On Saturday, Dec. 5, the Saymore students in the St. Albans area and students from the Church of the Nativity in Swanton will have a canned food drive from 9 a.m. to noon. And as part of the United Way’s “Cram the Complex” event on Dec. 4 and 5, local donors can help to “cram” the Collins-Perley Sports Complex in St. Albans full of food donations.

Operation Happiness has proven to be a unique barometer of the generosity and support of the community. Donations and resources have come from many familiar local faces, including the “Toys for Kids” Marine Red Barrel Program, Hannaford’s, the John LeClair Foundation and the Northwestern Medical Center. Volunteers have included Karin Berno, toy coordinator, Sally Sargent, food coordinator, Kathy Lavoie, logistic coordinator, Wendy Morrill, volunteer coordinator and Roger Livingston, Vermont State Guard Liaison.

“Without their generosity, we would not be able to service nearly the number of families that we do,” Billings emphasized.

“Operation Happiness takes the generosity and support of hundreds of volunteers to make sure that our thousands of families are able to celebrate the season with joy and hope,” agreed Karina Ware, executive director of the FGI United Way, who underscored that the effort is in good hands. “We are grateful to Marilyn and the other volunteers who help make this event possible.”

People wishing to volunteer for Operation Happiness can contact Wendy Morrill at 527-7850. Donations of canned goods, new hats, mittens and toys - especially for the 8 to 16 year-old age group - are also sought and appreciated. Monetary donations can be sent to the United Way, P.O. Box 387, St. Albans, VT (checks can be made payable to Operation Happiness), and will be used to assist students from the Missisquoi Valley Union Middle/High School to toy shop for the gift baskets.

The Franklin Grand Isle United Way is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving lives by mobilizing the caring power of the Franklin-Grand Isle Communities. The organization does this by raising money through a community-wide campaign, identifying long-term and emerging needs, finding solutions to address those needs, and measuring results that show donors how their dollars are making a difference.

For more information on Operation Happiness or the United Way of Franklin-Grand Isle Counties, visit www.fgiunitedway.org, or call 802-527-7418.