UNITED WAY GIVING FALLS SHORT OF GOAL

The Area Wide United Way is $90,000 short of its campaign goal with just a week to go.

This year's campaign is $50,000 behind the campaign last year, and the goal for 1994 is $20,000 higher.

A blitz is being held today as a final push to raise the money to meet the goal. United Way chairman Ron Hopkins said the campaign should wrap up by Dec. 15.

The blitz consists of a mini-phone-a-thon, said Jay Wolz, publicity chairman for the campaign. Volunteers will call people who may not have been contacted and people who may have forgotten to send in their pledges.

Contributions can be made by calling the United Way office at 334-9634.

If the campaign doesn't meet its goal, it means agencies will get less money and may have to cut services.

The United Way collects money for 26 service agencies.

United Way contributions make up one-third of the budget for the local American Red Cross.

Mary Burton of the local Red Cross chapter says a cut in United Way funding means direct cuts in services available.

"We won't be able to tell those military personnel about a death or birth or personal emergency," Burton said. "We would not be able to help that fire victim with no home left, no home, no food."

The Red Cross is not a government agency and is supported by donations.

Burton said donations to United Way benefit the Red Cross doubly because each United Way dollar they receive means the local chapter has to raise less money itself.

"That frees up some of our time to deal with clients rather than fund raising," she said.

Roger Henry of the Family Learning Center said the United Way provides 23 percent of the agency's funding. The Family Learning Center offers counseling and education for children and families. It operates under the Community Counseling Center.

"I don't have any way of cutting back expenses," Henry said. "In a small operation, you either have it or not."

Two years ago, United Way funding was less than expected, he said. "We did survive, but only by taking money from other services."

If the United Way doesn't meet it's goal, something similar would likely happen, he said.

"These are children who don't really have a voice for themselves," Henry said. "Only the adults in this county who give to the United Way can speak for those children."

As of Wednesday, the campaign had raised $430,286 toward the goal of $520,000. That represents 82.75 percent of the goal.

At this time last year, the United Way had raised $481,000 toward the goal of $500,000. The campaign last year topped its goal by $6,000.

Last year, Hopkins said, the generosity shown to flood victims spilled over to the United Way.

By contrast, volunteerism and contributions are down nationwide this year, he said. Other United Ways are having trouble meeting their goals as well.

The United Way board will decide later this month how much money each agency will receive.

The agencies had requested $565,000, so the board will have had to make cuts even if the goal is met.

United Way funding makes up over 50 percent of the budgets for five agencies. "Start cutting away at that and it will affect services," Hopkins said.