JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
It's not too late to donate to the Combined Federal Campaign - but after Oct. 15 it will be.
For members of Joint Base Charleston who haven't stepped up to the plate yet, the time to contribute is now, said Maj. Bill Skinner, base CFC project officer.
The major oversees progress for both the Air Base and Weapons Station and said no matter who needs help donating, all it takes is a call to a unit project officer or his office to get pointed in the right direction.
The CFC is the largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign, with more than 300 CFC campaigns held worldwide to help raise millions of dollars each year.
Aside from all the good the CFC brings to charities, there are also takeaways specific to military members, the major said. Military life and keeping on the move traditionally go hand-in-hand, said Major Skinner, so keeping a strong sense of community can be a challenge for military members.
For that reason, the CFC committee on base worked to bring out local agencies to the recent JB CHS inaugural open house to help members connect with local organizations in need of support. Two of the organizations, such as the Animal Society of Charleston and the local Food Bank, rely heavily on local military support, he said. In addition, the JB CHS Youth Programs Center also accepts donations through CFC.
One of the most important pieces of information Major Skinner said donators may find useful is the statistics on what percentage of money actually goes to the cause each charity supports. The figures are analyzed each year he said, and can help when determining which charity provides the most impact per dollar donated.
The CFC has a guidebook listing all of the charities with background information about each one, with an online option as well. This year there are more than 2,600 different charities to choose from. To make a donation, donors can make a one-time contribution or set up a payroll deduction.
Unit project officers are available to help members looking to donate. Outside of the UPO, Major Skinner has opened the invitation to aid any member looking to donate at 963-3813 or william.skinner@charleston.af.mil.