Friday, Sep. 05, 2008

When times are tough, support the United Way

WITH GAS PRICES and food costs elevated, the economy slowed and jobs harder to hold onto, many of our neighbors are finding themselves in need.

Fortunately, the United Way is ready and able to help. The charitable agency supports human and social services programs in Richland, Lexington, Fairfield, Newberry, Orangeburg and Calhoun counties. But the organization’s capacity to help is no greater than the community’s willingness to give.

Last year, this community rose to the occasion and helped the United Way reach its fundraising goal for the first time in a decade or more. The agency not only surpassed the $11.7 million mark it had set, but it bested the previous year’s $10.9 million campaign by more than 7 percent.

This year, the agency has set a goal of $12.2 million, a 4 percent increase over last year. It’s going to take another stellar effort, considering the current economic downturn. But it can be done. There are many generous companies and individuals in this community. The key is getting those dedicated donors to continue to give, perhaps even giving a little more, and encouraging new people to join the campaign, even if it means beginning by giving just $50.

Even if the community hits the established mark, it will still be below the amount community leaders believe the Midlands can reach. They say a community our size is capable of giving at the $15 million level.

With the increasing needs in our community, it’s imperative to raise as much as possible. The United Way steers funds to initiatives that provide basic needs, help children and youth succeed, promote financial security and independence, improve people’s health and build community capacity.

Agencies that offer programs that benefit from United Way funding include the Central South Carolina Chapter of the American Red Cross, Prevent Child Abuse South Carolina, Homeworks of America Inc., Harvest Hope Food Bank, Family Shelter, the Cooperative Ministry, James R. Clark Memorial Sickle Cell Foundation and BigBrothers BigSisters.

The United Way of the Midlands has restructured the way it distributes funds, taking a more active role in identifying appropriate, qualified organizations to deliver services that address this community’s most pressing needs. Where agencies once automatically got money to fund their core budgets, the United Way now uses a competitive process to provide funding to those organizations that offer effective programs.

The idea is to give the community the best chance possible to address areas of greatest need, given its limited amount of charitable funds.

While it might be tempting to consider cutting back on your United Way donation or not joining the campaign at all, this is actually the time to give as you never have before. The people you help might well be your neighbors or coworkers, or even yourself one day.

The real question here isn’t whether we can afford to give. It’s — given what’s at stake — whether we can afford not to give.