OPINION: United Way’s campaign provides great chance to help

When the nation’s economy struggles, so do United Way and the people who need the assistance such a charity can provide.

“The needs are greater than ever,” E.J. Newby, president of United Way of Florence County, recently told the Morning News editorial board.

The organization has served the county for more than 50 years, Newby said. It usually wraps up its fundraising campaign prior to Thanksgiving, but this year, it has extended the campaign through the end of the calendar year. That provides people ample opportunity to donate to an organization that supports 20 agencies under its umbrella.

Almost everyone is struggling and making sacrifices to some degree amid the country’s economic downturn. Nonetheless, many people out there are truly doing without, and they need the assistance that the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Lighthouse Ministries and many other agencies can provide with United Way’s help.

“I can tell you that each organization under this umbrella has been responsive,” said Lake City Mayor Lovith Anderson Jr., United Way of Florence County’s campaign chairman for next year.

The Florence County charity, however, still has a long way to go to reach its $1.4 million goal. It’s raised about $630,000 as of Monday, Newby said.

“We’re not throwing in the towel,” he said.

Last year’s goal was $1.5 million, and the organization came within $100,000 of that, he said.

United Way is continuing this year’s fundraising with no extended “blackout,” during which partner agencies are asked to avoid conducting any fundraisers that would interfere with the general campaign, Newby said.

Newby said the United Way’s partner agencies fall into six basic categories: youth services, emergency services, family services, special needs, abuse services and elderly services.

To receive funding, the agencies are vetted and must apply and submit their plans for the funding each year, said John Hanna, United Way of Florence County’s 2009 campaign chairman. The agencies wouldn’t have the fundraising resources all on their own, Hanna said.

In addition, the United Way funds stay in Florence County, and they are distributed throughout the county, not concentrated in one place or a few particular areas, he said.

United Way itself undergoes an audit each year, Newby said.

Anderson said he sees a discrepancy between services given and donations received in the southern part of Florence County, where he lives. He hopes to change that next year, and he thinks people living south of the Lynches River are “more than willing to step up to the plate” and contribute, he said.

Newby also mentioned the United Way of Aiken as a potential model to emulate locally. There, United Way does a “full-court press” for its campaign from August through Nov. 20, whereas August has been a “pacesetter” in Florence County, where business and corporations are invited to prepare for the actual campaign in September.

It’s important for United Way to reach its fundraising goals because if it doesn’t, that means less money to distribute to partner agencies, Anderson said.

“Where it will hurt the most is where it’s needed the most — that’s with the people,” he said.

— Unsigned editorials represent the views of this newspaper. Editorial Board members are Mark Laskowski (regional publisher), James Bennett (regional editor), Sam Bundy (sports editor), Kimberly Ginfrida (news editor), David Johnson (regional circulation director), Charles Tomlinson (Lake City News & Post editor) and Jackie Torok (metro editor).