WAUSAU, Wis (WSAU) - Marathon County United Way is getting ready to distribute the surveys for this year's LIFE Report.

Volunteers packed 4000 surveys to send to randomly selected households in Marathon County for the biennial survey. Director Joanne Kelly says the Report drives county and municipal efforts on local health issues. "It helps us stay in touch with what the community's needs are." The report looks at a family's health care coverage, health issues and what other pressing matters they think need to be addressed in the coming year.

The results of the survey will be turned into the LIFE Report, which the United Way and local leaders use to gauge the health of the community. Kelly says the information they collect is crucial. "That feedback is important as we monitor how we're doing as a community."

The surveys will be arriving in mailboxes next week, and those who get them can either fill out the paper survey or complete the survey online. Responses are requested by the end of May.