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United Way volunteer and county staffer asks Starr County commissioners to boost employee giving
Summary
Lucy Renteria, a Starr County employee and United Way volunteer, presented to the commissioners court on Feb. 10 asking county leadership to continue and expand employee contributions to United Way and highlighted local programs supported by the organization.
Lucy Renteria, a program coordinator in the county attorney’s office and a United Way volunteer, told the Starr County Commissioners Court on Feb. 10 that the county’s workplace giving has placed it in the top 10% of employers supporting United Way and asked commissioners to continue and increase support.
Renteria said United Way funds support local food pantries, domestic violence services, a VITA free-tax program, school-supply distributions and small-business training through a Latino home program. She cited partnerships with local schools and businesses and asked county employees and commissioners to complete pledge forms the United Way representative provided.
Why it matters: United Way funding supports several direct‑service programs that county staff said reach residents across Starr County, including victims of domestic violence and families receiving food assistance.
Renteria spoke about both institutional and personal reasons for supporting the nonprofit. She said the county’s employee campaign had placed the county among the top 10% of employers supporting United Way and described how donations are used locally. “I am a proud pillar club member donating $25 each paycheck,” Renteria said, adding that donations help ensure a family may have a meal tomorrow.
She described specific programs served by United Way in the region: the VITA free tax-preparation program for low-income residents, school-supply distributions to freshmen, a Latino home program that provides small-business and financial-management training, and prevention presentations in high schools and middle schools. Renteria also highlighted a county domestic-violence assistance program in which she serves and said the county had recorded 21 domestic-violence-related deaths in recent years; she named the county attorney's office and county employees among local donors.
The court acknowledged the presentation and a member of the public (Sam Maldonado), who identified himself as an engineer visiting from the county’s schools, thanked the court for proclaiming Engineers Week later on the agenda.
Ending: Renteria left pledge forms with the court and asked commissioners and county employees to consider increasing contributions; no funding decision by the court was made at the meeting.
