The Pike County community had an opportunity Tuesday night to learn more about the agencies that work so diligently to make the county a better place to live, work and play.

The Pike County United Way Kickoff at Cattleman Park featured the 17 agencies that it supports financially each year and each agency was on hand to let people know exactly what it does in support of Pike County and its people.

Anita Ellis, East Central Mental Health, said her agency appreciates the opportunity to bring awareness to the many programs and services it offers to the community.

“The United Way Kickoff is a great way for us the let people know what we do and also to people know how important the United Way is to our agency and to all the others that depend on it,” Ellis said.

The agencies represented at the Pike County United Way Kickoff were the Pike Regional Child Advocacy Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Humane Society of Pike County, Sav-a-Life, American Red Cross Pike County Branch, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Colley Senior Complex, House of Ruth, Salvation Army, East Central Mental Health, 4-H Clubs of Pike County, RSVP, Troy Charity League, Easter Seals, Pioneer Museum of Alabama and OCAP.

Tonya Gibson, Pike County United Way executive director, expressed appreciation to all of the agencies that participated and to all of those who came out in support of the United Way.

“As we kick off the annual Pike County United Way campaign, we always like to give the community an opportunity to see where the money goes that is donated to the United Way,” Gibson said.

“All of the money raised here in Pike County stays in Pike County to help our friends and neighbors, with the exception of the Boy Scouts.

The money donated to the Boy Scouts comes back to the community through the local Boy Scout camp near Enterprise.”

The fundraising campaign got off to a fast start Tuesday night and will end at Thanksgiving.

“The more money we raise, the more support we can give to these agencies that are so vital to our community,” Gibson said.

The silent auction always brings great excitement to the Kickoff event, as neighbors become friendly foes in an effort win the bids.

“We really want to thank all of those who donated items for the auction,” Gibson said.

“And to those who bid and bid again.”

Faye Lunsford was keeping a watchful eye on the items she hoped to take home.

“Auctions are always fun and this was a really good one,” she said. “I have to keep watching to see who’s going to try to outbid me.”