United Way Campaign Soars Past Goal
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The United Way of Toombs, Montgomery, and Wheeler Counties wrapped up its annual fundraising campaign last week, and soared past its goal, as the final amount of funds raised for the organization’s agency exceeded the campaign goal by over $10,000.
This year, a total of $525,146.43 – over $15,000 more than the campaign’s goal of $510,000 – was raised to help the 19 agencies funded through the United Way of Toombs, Montgomery, and Wheeler Counties.
The fundraising total was announced on Thursday, November 13, at the annual United Way Campaign Victory Luncheon, which brings together all United Way of Toombs, Montgomery, and Wheeler Counties Campaign volunteers and agencies to celebrate the money raised. “Everybody in here that worked on that campaign. You have been the hands and feet of Jesus. Because of you, people will receive hope. They will receive hope. Please don't take that lightly,” United Way of Toombs, Montgomery, and Wheeler Counties Executive Director Patricia Dixon told the volunteers. “Don't take it lightly. And you know what? God sees what you're doing. And I know without a shadow of a doubt that He's smiling down on you this morning.”
She added, “I firmly believe that God's not going to give us a dollar more or a dollar less than what we need. And I give Him all the praise and the glory for what we have raised.”
United Way of Toombs, Montgomery, and Wheeler Counties 2026 Campaign Chairman Michael Lane also reflected on the past few months that have been spent fundraising. “It’s been such a privilege to be able to chair the campaign this year,” he remarked. “I never envisioned that there would come a time that I would be able to have the opportunity to chair the campaign, and then my friend Angela Lane – no relation – asked me to be her cochair last year. It was such a joy to see her work and partner with her, and we had such a good time together and were victorious through a difficult year for our community.”
He continued, “And then we had some roadblocks this year. We had some speed bumps that really caused us to wonder – or caused me to wonder – [if we would meet our goal] but again, as Patricia said, God is faithful. I know the true benefactors of the work ARE going to be those in our community that have needs, and we're going to be able to meet those needs. So, a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you.”
Lane thanked 2026 Campaign Co-Chair Amanda Higgins for her work on the campaign and assured the audience that he was confident that Higgins would lead a successful campaign next year. He also shared his gratitude for Dixon for having enough confidence in his ability to lead and raise funding that she was able to trust him as a campaign chair.
Example of the Organization’s Work During the luncheon, Amy Cruz informed the audience of how United Way of Toombs, Montgomery, and Wheeler Counties had not only positively impacted the organizations which she worked with – Forge Men’s Recovery Center and Gardens of Hope Recovery Community Organization (RCO) – but also with a coworker and friend.
Cruz serves as the administrative assistant for Forge Men’s Recovery Center, and a certified peer specialist for parents of individuals struggling with addiction, which allows her to work closely with Gardens of Hope RCO. “Gardens of Hope is located in the old Garden Club building in Lions, and we are an addiction recovery support center. And why this is important is because in 2015, my son struggled with addiction, and I had a brother who his whole life struggled with addiction. He recently passed away in February. But during the time when my family was struggling, I had nowhere to go. I had no one to ask questions. I didn't know who to ask help. I didn't even know where there was meetings. I didn't even know about meetings. I just had a whole lot of questions and nowhere to get answers,” she began.
Cruz said that she was approached by Gardens of Hope RCO Founder Craig George to create a place where families could come and ask tough questions, such as those Cruz had during her son and brother’s addiction. Because of her desire to be a solution to the issue, Cruz immediately joined the effort and soon met former Gardens of Hope RCO Board of Directors Member Kim Lawson.
“Kim Lawson herself is in seven years of recovery. She's an advocate for women. She attends a lot of the meetings in the area and strongly supports recovery all over. She became a board member, an active board member, and was working with our organization up until this year where an opportunity came and we were awarded a transportation grant,” Cruz explained.
The organization used the grant to purchase a minibus, which transports individuals in long-term recovery to their appointments and meetings related to recovery, which helps to reduce the issue of relapse due to a lack of transportation to needed activities. Lawson desired to be a part of this new endeavor, and to get more involved with helping others find freedom in recovery, so she stepped down from the Board of Directors and became the transportation specialist for Gardens of Hope RCO.
“She was crushing it. She went and she got her certification for peer specialist. She also got her certification for CARES, and she was a peer mentor for a lot of women. Her next step was to be a peer mentor for the women in the jail system,” Cruz added.
Yet, Lawson’s progress was halted when a health issue completely changed her life. “One day, we noticed that something was a little off about her. She would come into a room and she's like, ‘I don't know why I'm in here.’ We thought [maybe she was just exhausted], because, you know, we work really hard and long hours. So, we blamed it at that. Then her arm was numb, and then one day, she couldn't get out of bed,” Cruz recounted.
Lawson was suffering from severe degenerative disc disorder, causing the vertebrae discs in her neck to be completely shattered. Doctors were perplexed at this injury, as she had not undergone anything traumatic that should have caused the injury. “She has not been in an accident. She had not fallen. It was just a disorder,” Cruz remarked. “She was flown to Savannah. They had to completely reconstruct her neck. But by the time they had done that, she now has no feelings in any of her extremities.”
Cruz continued, “They're hoping that with advanced therapy, she'll be able to walk. But as of now, she is going to be in a wheelchair. Thanks to the Forge [Men’s Recovery Center] men who built her a ramp outside her mobile home where she is going to come home to, she now has a ramp. A lot of people in the community donated medical supplies. And I'm so grateful that United Way also decided to partner up and help her with some of her expenses. I'm telling you because each and every one of you that donate to United Way is a part of this work and is a part of stories just like hers.”
Cruz concluded her story sharing that Lawson remains resilient and plans to continue her work with the recovery community, as she thanked the United Way of Toombs, Montgomery, and Wheeler County volunteers for their work to help provide for nonprofit agencies within the region. “She's like, ‘If I can still talk, I can still create a difference.’ And so she's determined to still do that. On behalf of Gardens of Hope and on behalf of her as her friend, I want to thank each and every one of you who donate and go out there and help with the fundraisers and show up to things like this because you are making a difference. Her life matters, and every life that she touches matters. Each of you have a part of that.’ Upcoming Campaign
2026 Campaign Co-Chair Amanda Higgins concluded the luncheon, sharing that she is excited to lead next year’s campaign alongside her Co-Chair Emily Hart.
HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS – United Way of Toombs, Montgomery, and Wheeler Counties Executive Director Patricia Dixon emphasized that the volunteers and donors to the cause had acted as the “hands and feet of Jesus.”Photo by Makaylee Randolph
REFLECTING ON THE CAMPAIGN – 2026 United Way Campaign Chairman Michael Lane reflects on his experience leading the campaign, and wishes luck to next year’s Campaign Chairwoman Amanda Higgins and Campaign Co-Chairwoman Emily Hart.Photo by Makaylee Randolph
THANKING THE ORGANIZATION – Forge Men’s Recovery Center and Gardens of Hope RCO Representative Amy Cruz explained to the audience how the United Way of Toombs, Montgomery, and Wheeler Counties was helping her friend. She thanked the organization, donors, and volunteers for this help, which she said had been incredible to receive.Photo by Makaylee Randolph
