Mesa United Way is looking for volunteers to provide free tax help to East Valley residents and volunteers to help with a distribution of Christmas gifts to children in foster care.

Leisure World invites golfers from throughout the Valley to participate in its tournament on Saturday, Dec. 3 to benefit Mesa United Way. It will be held at the Coyote Run Championship Golf Course, 908 S. Power Road in Mesa, and will include an awards luncheon, raffle and putting contest.

From homeless families to homebound elderly, there are many people in the East Valley who receive assistance from Mesa United Way-funded agencies. Some folks need shelter until they can get back on their feet again. Some women need counseling and a safe place to stay to break free from domestic violence. Some children need the mentoring and guidance that comes from programs for youth.

Valley of the Sun United Way is working to raise its profile in the East Valley — at the same time Gilbert leaders are exploring the idea of breaking away from the Valleywide agency and joining its Mesa counterpart.

The Mesa United Way on Thursday launched a drive to raise 465,000 pounds of food by June 21 to help fill empty shelves this summer at the United Food Bank. The idea is to collect 1 pound of food for every resident in Mesa, explained United Way President Carol McCormack at a luncheon where leading contributors were recognized.

In December, donors gave another $435,000 to Mesa United Way’s 2011-2012 pledge campaign, bringing the total received so far to $1,160,000. The goal for the campaign, which started July 1, 2011 and ends June 30, 2012, is $2,825,000.

The Mesa United Way will begin accepting applications on Nov. 1 from qualified nonprofit organizations for funding from its 2010-11 Community Care Fund.

The Mesa United Way held its annual lunch Friday to recognize corporate and individual donors. During the event, QuikTrip was recognized with the Heart of Mesa award for the percentage of employees making donations, its corporate gift and contributions by leadership. Two nonprofit organizations, The Marc Center of Mesa and A New Leaf/Mesa CAN, were also honored.

The Valley of the Sun United Way has chosen Ben Campbell, chief executive of JP Morgan Chase Bank in Arizona, as chairman of this year’s fundraising campaign.

The Mesa United Way wraps up its extended fundraising campaign on Wednesday, and it reminds me of a joke I heard some years ago:

The Mesa United Way has launched an emergency fundraising campaign to raise money for local nonprofit agencies that could face funding shortfalls because of Mesa’s budget cuts.

The Mesa United Way has launched an emergency fundraising campaign to raise money for local nonprofit agencies that could face funding shortfalls because of Mesa’s budget cuts.

The Mesa United Way kicks off its fund-raising campaign this month, and for the first time in its 67-year history its goal won’t be based on dollars raised, but on the number of people giving.

“I had no idea!”

Mesa United Way is inviting qualified non-profit organizations to apply for funding from its 2013-14 Community Chest. Representatives of interested organizations must make reservations and attend one of two pre-application meetings this month. Applications will be accepted beginning Nov. 1.

Keona Thurman knows how hard it is for some Mesa residents to pay their bills during these tough economic times. As a resource counselor for Salt River Project, she’s helped put customers struggling to pay their electric bills in touch with agencies that provide temporary utility assistance.