United Way hosts annual meeting celebrating success of past year

May 5, 2025 | By Denise Damron, United Way of the Mark Twain Area

Sharon Webster, clinic director, holds the Agency of the Year Award presented to the Hannibal Free Clinic with current and former members including Justin Gibson, Craig Parsons, Todd Ahrens and Joel Booth. | Photos courtesy of the United Way of the Mark Twain Area

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The United Way of the Mark Twain Area held its annual meeting on Thursday, April 24, celebrating a year of community impact and recognizing key partners and volunteers. The event highlighted the success of the “Everyone Can Help Someone” campaign and the vital work of local organizations supported by United Way.

Angela Peters, chair of the “Everyone Can Help Someone” campaign, talked through the overarching goals of the campaign.

“This year’s theme wasn’t just a catchy phrase, it was a powerful truth brought to life by each and every one of you,” Peters said in a press release. “We embarked on this campaign with the belief that collective action, no matter the size of the contribution, can create a ripple effect of positive change throughout our five-county region.”

Peters shared that the number of Leadership donors giving more than $500 to the United Way campaign has never been higher.

Jeriod Turner, vice president of Community Impact on the United Way board of directors, shared about the process local organizations go through to earn the distinction of being a United Way Community Impact Agency and benefiting financially from United Way.

The following organizations were unveiled to have received this status for May 2025 to April 2026 and will receive funding each month from United Way.

AVENUES
Birthday Blessings
CHADS Coalition for Mental Health
CHART Teen Task Force
Coyote Hill
Douglass Community Services
Hannibal Free Clinic
Hannibal Parents as Teachers
Harvest Outreach Ministries
Hannibal Alliance for Youth Success
Heartland Resources
LOQW
Monroe City Food Pantry
NECAC
Salvation Army of Hannibal
Shelby County Cares
The Child Advocacy Center of Northeast Missouri
YMCA of Hannibal

Awards were given to honor people and entities that help make the mission of the United Way come to life in the community.

Everyone Can Help Someone award winner: Mark Lueckenhoff

Lueckenhoff was recognized for his role in revitalizing Heartland Resources, a Lewis County senior services organization that had been on the brink of collapse. Stepping in as a full-time volunteer executive director, Lueckenhoff restored the organization’s reputation and services, leading to increased clients despite funding cuts. His efforts ensured the continuation of vital Meals on Wheels and in-home care for the community’s seniors.

Agency of the Year: Hannibal Free Clinic

The Hannibal Free Clinic opened in 2007 to provide free primary healthcare to uninsured community members. Under the direction of Sharon Webster, the clinic has served thousands, facilitated access necessary prescriptions to manage chronic health conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, etc., and is credited with preventing countless medical emergencies.

Business of the Year: Hannibal Regional Healthcare System

Hannibal Regional Healthcare System’s involvement with United Way includes leadership on the board and committees, consistent campaign contributions and crucial collaboration on initiatives like the ongoing 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment. Notably, Hannibal Regional empowered United Way to launch the Community Help Line and Resource Guide during COVID, which has helped thousands of community members access the help they need. The healthcare system has actively supported United Way’s evolution from a fundraising entity into a driver of community change.

Lifetime Dedication award recipient: Larry Hinds

Hinds co-founded United Way’s partner agency, Harvest Outreach Ministries. Hinds, a former drug addict who found faith, established Harvest Outreach to provide vital sober living homes for men and women in recovery. The organization also feeds hundreds of community members each weeknight through its Loaves and Fishes program in downtown Hannibal.

New and Retiring Board Members

Dawn Lowrey, immediate past president and chair of the nominating committee, presented Stephanie Himmel as a candidate to join the United Way board of directors. Himmel is the associate minister at First Christian Church in Hannibal. She was instrumental in the establishment of the Emergency Overnight Warming Center coordinated through First Christian Church. She volunteers through CASA and previously was the Community Outreach Initiatives Director at Douglass Community Services. Himmel was unanimously elected to join the United Way board of directors.

Denise Damron, executive director of United Way, recognized Lowrey for her service to United Way. She served on the United Way Allocations Committee from 2013-2016. She joined the United Way board of directors in 2015. She chaired the Inspire the Future campaign in 2022-23. In 2023-24, she served as the board president and then served as the past president and nominating committee chair in 2024-25.

In lieu of a gift from United Way to thank community members for their service to the organization, all attendees were presented with a dollar and a challenge by board president Andrea Campbell and Angela Peters to use the dollar to help someone in need, donate it to a good cause or find another use that would help someone within the community.