ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
A new year is well under way, and for Seward County United Way, this means both new and old events on its schedule for 2026.
Director Patricia Fierro said the older events United Way has in store for this year have done well in the past, and the newest events look to be quite fun for those who take part.
Monday, SCUW drew winners for its second annual Valentine’s Giveaway, and March 6, Hispanic women in the community will have the opportunity to take part in a celebration of International Women’s Day or Dia International de la Mujer.
Fierro said the entire event will be done in Spanish, and therapist Vanessa Gaytan will talk to those in attendance about changes women experience and mental health issues.
Specifically, Fierro said Gaytan will address anxiety and depression, as well as changes in a woman’s body that could affect their mood such as menopause, post-menopause symptoms they may be feeling, things that could be confusing from hormones that are actually more of a mental health issue. Fierro said this will likewise help women to better identify these differences.
Entertainment will also be provided for the evening, with the event running from 7 to 10 p.m. March 6 in the community room at Equity Bank in Liberal. Soloist Hector Escutia will perform.
Fierro has done similar events with SCUW, as well as with groups such as the Immunize Kansas Coalition and Bienestar Total, with good turnouts, and she is expecting similar numbers for the March 6 event.
“It’s very empowering, and our guests have left with so much information and feeling really good about themselves to have attended and learned a little more in understanding what these issues are,” she said. “We are hoping to continue to educate our community about the importance of mental health and that it really does exist, and it’s okay for us to be able to work on getting better and seeking treatment as necessary.”
International Women’s Day is actually March 8, which is a Sunday, and Fierro said this is why United Way leaders wanted to be able to provide something close to that day.
“I felt March would be a good time to be able to do this,” she said. “We have spring coming in, and a lot of people get seasonal depression. Sometimes, starting the new year and having the resolutions, it’s in our best interest to be able to have that information available to us in our language and being able to know it is common. These issues are common, and it is important for you to know you’re not alone.”
As for what she hopes those who attend Dia International de la Mujer will get out of it, Fierro said she wants them to go home with better understanding, as well as knowledge and reflection about themselves.
“If somebody is taking a friend, they know who benefits from it and having that person, whether it’s a friend, a family member come in and hear it from a professional,” she said. “It’s amazing because there is a lot of information out there, but not necessarily professionals are giving it.”
Fierro said getting information from a certified professional is also ideal, and many times, women do not seek therapy because of the stigma attached to it or simply not believing it works.
“We are a group of women allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and listening to what is being said, hoping that person will take in that information and use it to their advantage and potentially seek therapy if they need it or actually be able to open a little more with the family and be able to express their concerns a little more freely without knowing it’s normal for me to feel this way because of X, Y and Z,” she said. “That way, the family can understand it and be a little more supportive if they are going through changes in life.”
Fierro said she feels it is extremely important for those who have the ability to attend to do so.
“We are trying to eliminate as many barriers as possible,” she said. “Seeing how Liberal is a large majority of Hispanics and not a lot of presentations are done in their language, we are hoping to be able to reach a larger audience.”
Fierro said eliminating the barrier of child care likewise is an encouragement for women to attend the event.
“If we have those single moms or Dad is working a second shift and nobody’s available to take care of the children, we want them to be able to attend,” she said. “We also know there are a lot of ladies who suffer from postpartum depression even months after they’ve given birth. Being able to identify postpartum depression is real and knowing ways of being able to cope with feelings. We’re trying to eliminate as many barriers so many women can attend.”
Tickets for the event are $30, and this includes dinner and child care for children between the ages of 2 and 10. Tickets are available from Norma Valles at French Construction, Betty Symon at the Liberal Chamber of Commerce, Fierro at SCUW, Maria De La O at Sunflower Bank and Erica Camacho at Bank of the Plains, as well as Equity Bank.
For more information, call the United Way office at 620-624-5400, or e-mail
“I feel it’s great information to give to our community,” she said. “We’re wanting to educate everyone in different topics. This is very near and dear to my heart.”
Fierro emphasized she wants as many women who can take the opportunity to come to do so.
“Not only are they going to educate themselves and have wonderful entertainment and food, but they are also supporting their community by purchasing their tickets and using the money we collect from all of our events,” she said. “It goes back into our agencies that provide essential or important, valuable resources to our community.”
