Iowa State is dedicating this week to raising money for United Way.

United Way assists communities across America that face problems, such as drugs, homelessness, poverty, child abuse and elderly care by donating money to charitable organizations.

“Student United Way Week is a brand new project to get students to help those in need,” said Dean of Students Kathleen MacKay.

MacKay said last year Iowa State donated a sum of about $150,000, and only $1,200 of that was donated by students.

“That’s less than 4 cents per student,” MacKay said. “In order to raise this amount, the week of Nov. 9 through 13 is officially Iowa State’s United Way Week.

“We are hoping to raise the sum up to $168,000 by increasing the student contributions,” MacKay said.

Scott Berscheid, Government of the Student Body human relations director and student coordinator of United Way Week, said in past years, students have not met the United Way fund-raising goals.

“The idea for more student involvement in United Way actually began this summer when Dean MacKay met with a group of student leaders. They all saw the need for more student involvement on campus and decided that we should do something about it,” Berscheid said.

“We want to start a tradition here at Iowa State — a tradition that we hope will show not just the students, but the community and ultimately the world that we care,” he said.

Ames United Way has helped not only the community, but also ISU, MacKay said.

She said with donations from United Way, the American Red Cross helped support the victims of Theta Chi when their fraternity house burned down two years ago, and helped the residents of Larch Hall’s Wolf House when it was damaged by fire last year.

MacKay said United Way also has contributed to students with families and to children through national partnerships, internships and grant programs.

“[United Way Week] gives ISU students the opportunity to participate in something much larger than a campus activity,” said Kelly Koeppel, Freshman Council representative.

Koeppel said there will be beverage can collections between Nov. 1 and Nov. 20. She said on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week there will be bucket drives for cans between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. near the Hub, Parks Library, the Memorial Union and between Curtiss and Beardshear Halls.

Koeppel said students with residence hall food service plans also can contribute to the fund-raising efforts by participating in “Miss a meal, get a deal.” For every student who doesn’t use their meal plan on Wednesday between 4:15 and 6:45 p.m., the Department of Residence will donate the meal money to United Way, she said.

Berscheid said being part of United Way Week is being part of history in the making.

“It is important to participate this week because you never know when you’ll be the one who needs the help,” Berscheid said.

He said students need to look at this from a human perspective rather than from a standpoint of individual gain.

“It is very likely that each of us will someday be able to witness first-hand the benefits of contributions like ours,” Koeppel said.