Why the Stories We Share Matter
By Angie Matthiessen, Chief Executive Officer
Some of the most important work in a community happens long before anyone sees the results.
It might be someone reading this newspaper over morning coffee and recognizing a challenge a neighbor is facing. It might be a friend forwarding an email with a simple message: “I thought of you.” Or a business owner learning about a community need and deciding there is something they can do to help.
We may never know what happens next. But sometimes, that is where a meaningful connection begins.
At United Way Charlotte County, we love the big moments. We see people gather, volunteers show up and generosity turn into action. These are the moments we celebrate because they reflect the very best of our community.
Daily, observing my team and the focus, intentionality and work they do every day, I have come to appreciate the work that happens before those moments, too.
Before someone volunteers, they must hear about the opportunity. Before a family reaches out for support, they need to know where to turn. And before someone invests in a solution, they need to understand the need and believe that things can get better.
Sometimes, that starts with a story.
Behind a newspaper column, an email or a social media post is a team listening, asking questions and working with community partners to understand what our neighbors need to know. It is more than sharing information. It is helping people see the need, recognize the possibilities and find their place in the solution.
And not every story is easy to tell.
Our neighbors are so much more than the hardships they face. Their experiences deserve to be shared with care and dignity. We have a responsibility to be honest about the challenges facing Charlotte County without defining people by their struggles. We also celebrate the good happening in our community while recognizing that there is still work to do.
That balance matters. Trust grows when we tell the whole story—what is working, what remains difficult and where we still need one another.
We can measure how many people open an email, click a link or share a post. Those numbers tell us something about how far a message travels. But I find myself wondering about the things we cannot measure so easily.
Did someone realize they weren't alone? Did a family find the courage to ask for help? Did someone discover a way to give their time or talents that they hadn't considered before?
We may never know which story sparked that connection. But we can keep creating opportunities for those connections to happen.
To me, that is part of what it means to show up for our community. Sometimes it means volunteering, giving or lending a hand.
Other times, it begins with paying attention, sharing what we learn or connecting someone with a resource they need.
It isn't about one person doing everything. It's about all of us doing something—and recognizing that even the smallest action can lead to something meaningful.
So, the next time a story catches your attention, consider where it might go next.
Share it with someone. Start a conversation. You never know what connection might follow.
Sometimes, the most meaningful chapter begins after the story leaves our hands.
For more information about United Way Charlotte County’s mission: Mobilizing the power of our community so all can thrive, please contact Angie Matthiessen, Chief Executive Officer. She can be reached at director@unitedwayccfl.org.