‘Making good’: Houston County leadership washes car to assist local non-profit

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — It’s not every day that you can get your boss to wash your car. In the case of Donna Deloach, an employee of the Houston County Water Department, all she had to do was participate in a fundraiser.

On Thursday, Houston County Chairman Dan Perdue and Community Planner Jake Cox scrubbed the exterior and vacuumed out the floorboards of Deloach’s SUV. Their total efforts helped raised $2,905. Perdue and Cox both shed some more light on the story.

“Today we are making good on a giveaway and raffle we did to promote the United Way ‘s car raffle,” Perdue explained. “United Way of Central Georgia gives away a car every year from Jeff Smith, and to incentivize our employees to buy tickets, we said that we’d draw from everyone who bought a ticket in that raffle, and we’d wash their car. We’re out here washing a car this afternoon.”

With scrub brushes, rags, a bucket of soap and a handheld vacuum in tow, Perdue and Cox worked together in the parking lot of the Houston County Sheriff’s Office to make Deloach’s car shine.

In addition to a free car wash, Deloach also received gift certificates to local restaurants and a time-off certificate.

By purchasing raffle tickets in United Way’s raffle, Houston County employees were able to raise $2,905 in a total $46,000 raised. The county raised the second largest collection of funds, behind Mercer University alone.

“United Way is so instrumental in the good work that a lot of non-profit and community support organizations are doing in Houston County, and really in the entire region here,” Perdue said. “It’s important for myself, it’s important for Jake Cox, who leads up our United Way campaign, and it’s important for the Board of Commissioners to support United Way because they’re so instrumental in supporting other organizations.

“United Way is not there for United Way, they’re there to support other organizations that are doing the good work of supporting populations and people in our communities.”

This campaign is the primary route Houston County takes to raise funds and assist with the actions of United Way of Central Georgia. According to Perdue, they do it because they feel it’s their responsibility.

“We’re a governmental entity, but we’re also a large employer and a large business in Houston County,” Perdue explained. “Just like we’d want to see any large employer, Frito Lay, or Perdue, or Robins Air Force Base, [we] support the organizations that are doing good work in Houston County. The government is responsible for coming alongside United Way, running a good and effective campaign and supporting United Way in that way as well.”

Though Houston County participates in United Way’s raffle each year, this is the first time they’ve provided this incentive for employee involvement. Cox said that the incentive was a “great first effort.”

Amber Morris, a resource development director for United Way, described a bit of how the money will be used.

“What’s raised in Houston County, stays in Houston County, and goes to benefit those families,” Morris explained. “There’s so many organizations here that we partner with, such as the Houston County Volunteer Clinic, Rainbow House, Casa [and] the Salvation Army of Houston County.

“All of the funds that are raised through the Commissioners Office are going to be able to help those people to be able to do the most good here in Houston County. Some of the people you’ll see benefit from those programs are people such as our veterans through the VECTR Center, you’ll be able to see that in people receiving counseling services, or utility assistance, day-in and day-out.”

If you are seeking to take an active role in United Way, either through a donation or volunteer work, you can visit their website at unitedwaycg.org.

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