By Debbie Wachter Morris
To survive a faltering economy, the local United Way is asking 1,000 new donors for $1 per week.
That’s $2 per pay from a biweekly paycheck, or $52 a year, that would generate $52,000 new dollars for the agency.
The Lawrence County agency has reported a shortfall of 14 percent, or $75,000, in its 2009 fund-raising campaign which closes March 31, and is looking for ways to make up that deficit, explained Gayle M. Young, United Way executive director.
The agency’s goal for this year is $525,000.
Young called a meeting yesterday with the social services that benefit from United Way’s fund-raising efforts, but only five representatives of its 18 regular-member agencies attended.
Young explained that the local agency’s shortfall is not unique. It compares with percentages elsewhere in the western Pennsylvania region, including Erie County.
“A lot of it has to do with the industrial and manufacturing base,” she said.
As examples, the closing of ESSROC last year resulted in a $10,000 decline in United Way employee donations. Likewise, contributions from Huntington Bank, which has had some local closings and layoffs, are down $5,000. Liberty Mutual, one of the larger employers in the county, changed its giving methods and its donations are down by $10,000, Young said.
While donations have declined, the needs of recipient agencies are growing for the services they deliver, she said, noting that people are going off unemployment compensation, and they need food, clothing and shelter.
“We are a community in crisis,” Young said.
Therese McShea, who sits on the United Way community outreach committee, asked the member agencies, “If (United Way’s) funds are down and your moneys are cut, how does this trickle down to the people you are serving?”
She asked, if United Way does not meet its goal, what will be the impact on those services?
The agency conducted an analysis and found that the commercially based companies are not contributing like they once did, she said.
Some of the agencies benefiting from United Way also have experienced reductions in state and federal funding while they are seeing increasing demand from clients who are feeling the economic pinch, Young said.
United Way’s community-wide campaign depends largely on the support of payroll deduction, which has been decreased as a result of local businesses and industries either closing their doors or curtailing their donations.
Payroll deductions account for more than 40 percent of the United Way campaign, Young said, adding that “its not too late” for employees to decide to contribute the $1 per week.
Ed Pritchard, New Castle Salvation Army Major, suggested people “give their two-cents worth,” or 2 cents per hour or 16 cents per day or $1.60 over 10 days. That amounts to more than a dollar a week, he said.
McShea suggested that people can make one-time donations on-line now, too, at www.uwlawcty.org.
Donations are tax deductible.
She pointed out that agencies that benefit from United Way dollars raise close to $40,000 themselves for the agency through their employee donations.
“We support each other,” she said.
