McGowan Heads Annual State Charitable Appeal

    AUGUSTA —  Maine state employees have the opportunity to help their neighbors with the start this week of the 2008 Maine State Employees Combined Charitable Appeal. The goal this year is to raise more than $440,000 to go to charitable organizations around the state, the nation and the world.     Always generous, state employees this year also have a unique opportunity to help their fellow Mainers heat their homes this winter.
    The campaign is in its 29th year, and this year’s appeal is chaired by Patrick K. McGowan, Maine Department of Conservation commissioner. The focus, he said, is on “neighbors helping neighbors.”
    “We know how difficult the economic times are, and even more so for our neighbors who are indigent, ill, elderly or who have special needs,” the appeal chairman said. “This is our opportunity to show our concern for them and support them as true neighbors in the Maine way.”
    State employees have been very generous when it comes to helping others. Last year, several thousand state employees took part in the 2007 appeal and raised $433,000 to assist charitable organizations.
    Funds raised go to numerous causes, ranging from environmental to education to health and human services. Some 17 federations, or charitable organizations, are supported by the campaign.
    This year, participants have the opportunity to give directly to the “Keep ME Warm” program, presented by the United Way of Greater Portland through Maine Community Action Association Inc. and other organizations. The Keep ME Warm fund is a statewide partnership with the goal of helping Maine people stay safe, warm and secure. Funds are used to provide emergency heating assistance to low-income residents and to stock local food pantries and to fund weatherization projects.
    “Making sure that our friends and neighbors are being taken care of in terms of heating and weatherization is going to be a real concern this year,” Chairman McGowan said.
    In an effort to “go green,” pledge forms and the donor guide are online for the convenience of campaign participants.
    For more information, pledge forms and the donor guide, go to: www.maine.gov/msecca
    For information about Keep ME Warm, go to: http://mainecom