UPDATED: United Way Stages 'Mob Dance' At Ledyard Fair

At 5 p.m. on Saturday, while fair-goers gathered around tables for the pie-eating contest, another crowd began to gather near the upper stage. By 5:30, the space beside the concession stand was packed with men and women, all wearing white United Way T-shirts. Some carried signs or held bundles of balloons.

Mayor Fred B. Allyn Jr. made a short speech and stepped off the stage. And then everyone started moving.

The United Way volunteers marched out, formed ranks, and began dancing. “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson blasted from the speakers. Those with signs and balloons paraded around the group of dancers.

The United Way of Southeastern Connecticut organized the flash mob to start their fundraising campaign. The group raises money to try to improve the lives of those in New London County. The dance was followed by a speech from the campaign’s leaders, Melodie Peters and Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.

One of their messages concerned a new way to donate. Along with slogans like “Live United” and “Help Make A Difference,” some of the signs carried instructions. Big, block letters read, “Text GIVELOCAL to 85944 To Donate $10.00.”

According to Peters, the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut has begun to focus on getting more people involved, rather than simply on raising more money. The organization has already gained 4,000 new supporters.

Peters hopes to find still more members among the area’s people, who she says are giving. “What is unique about southeastern Connecticut is that we are family,” she said. “Even if we’re needy, we’re helping other people who have even more needs. I love that about us.”

Hurricane Irene provided even more examples of this spirit. “During the storm…with the trees down, and you can’t get out of your road… the neighbors come out with their chainsaw and pulled the trees away and told you where you could get food and water,” Peters said. “And that’s what United Way does.”

Butler said that the purpose of the United Way is to help those in need. The group can “do what no other single organization can do,” he said. It pulls together resources and evaluates local needs to best distribute them. “It makes it easy for us who want to give… to understand what’s needed,” he said.

In case a good cause and giving spirit aren’t enough, the first 50 people to donate $10 by text receive a prize. Each can receive two tickets to the upcoming Vince Gill concert at Foxwoods.

And, of course, a flashmob makes a fine attention-getter, too. Volunteers practiced their dance every Thursday for the past month. They worked under the guidance of Allison Nine, a dance instructor and employee of Zachry Nuclear Engineering in Groton.