This fall’s United Way campaign is off to a rollicking start with kickoff festivities on Wednesday and Day of Caring today. High energy is going into improving the lives of people in Rowan County, and the United Way is an integral part of that effort.

The United Way of Rowan County raises money for 16 area nonprofits, and it does even more. Time after time, United Way has pulled resources together to get the community through challenging times. When people lose jobs in a large layoff — the closing of Pillowtex is the classic example — the United Way is there to help workers find the help and resources they need.

That said, the 16 United Way member agencies perform tremendous services for Rowan residents, from cradle to senior years, touching some 70,000 lives a year. Reaching the campaign’s $1.5 million goal this fall will ensure that the agencies’ good work will continue. If you’re not familiar with the agencies, here’s a list:

• Emergency services: American Red Cross, Rowan County Rescue Squad, Salvation Army.

• Family services: Families First Inc., Family Crisis Council, Rowan County Literacy Council, 211.

• Special services: Rowan Vocational Workshop, The ARC/Rowan.

• Older adult services: Meals on Wheels of Rowan, Rufty-Holmes Senior Center, Trinity Living Center.

• Youth services: Boy Scouts, Communities in Schools, Rowan County YMCA, Rowan County Youth Services Bureau, Smart Start Rowan.

In addition to distributing funds to the organizations, the United Way assesses the quality of their programs and makes sure donated funds are spent locally. That may be United Way’s greatest strength; what is given here stays here. The United Way is in tune with Rowan County and knows our priorities.

The United Way of Rowan County also supports supplemental services for the Autism Society of North Carolina, Children’s Home Society, Epilepsy Association of North Carolina, Florence Crittenton and the N.C. Alcohol and Drug Council.

With one donation, you can effectively help all these agencies. If you need inspiration to do something for United Way this year, check out the video that’s been put together for this year’s campaign at http://ow.ly/NzlG303ZWEk. It will lift your spirits. Rowan is a giving community where people like to help each other. Give to the United Way of Rowan County, and  don’t stop believin’.