Time to give: United Way struggles with fundraising campaign
NORWICH – The Chenango County United Way Campaign will come to a close on Friday, Dec. 29. With only three and a half weeks left in the campaign, the United Way is facing a difficult season, and its community partners are beginning to get nervous.
At this time last year, the Chenango United Way had raised $401,000; unfortunately this year they have raised slightly more than half this amount. As of Dec. 1, the United Way reported raising only $244,000. “We have never been this far behind in the eight years I have been here,” said Chenango United Way Executive Director Elizabeth Monaco. “All of the local services rely on United Way funding each year to provide their services. If we do not raise enough money, some programs will be de-funded and a huge unmet need will occur.”
Each year, United Way dollars are used to fund programs for Opportunities for Chenango, Catholic Charities and The Place, along with many others. “The United Way is in the middle of all the good things that happen in this community,” said Craig Cashman of OFC. According to him, OFC primarily uses United Way dollars for four different programs: Headstart, which provides preschool services to low-income families; the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), the Transitional Housing program, provides shelter for homeless families; and a literacy volunteers program that provides basic literacy skills for individuals who do not know how to read. All of the programs would be adversely affected by a weak United Way Campaign, but the transitional housing program would be hit the hardest. “That program would be disbanded all together. It would be a dramatic shift for the community,” Cashman said, explaining that this is the only transitional housing program in the county.
Catholic Charities uses United Way dollars to fund programs for counseling, domestic violence, the Roots and Wings Food Pantry and emergency services, and the Catholic Charities center based child care. “Our counseling provides therapy to individuals, couples and families, preschool to adult,” said Catholic Charities Executive Director Jane Coddington. Many of the services available at Catholic Charities, including child care, are offered on a sliding scale. Families who cannot afford to pay as much, are charged a smaller amount. Without the United Way funding, the sliding scale would not be possible. “It would be devastating to the program to lose funding,” Coddington said. The Roots and Wings Food Pantry is another essential program. “It’s the only program in the county that is open five days a week, and we’re beginning to see more and more people. ” Coddington said. The smaller donations to the United Way campaign has Coddington a little worried. “We don’t know how we would make up the gap,” she said.
Perhaps the biggest effect of a weak United Way campaign would fall on The Place’s Dave Sheldon. “United Way dollars fund all but one program at The Place,” said Sheldon. Although The Place also relies heavily on grants, most of those require a local match of funds. The Place uses the money received from the United Way to provide the local match. Programs at The Place include the service learning program, which encourages middle school youth to get involved in community service; the school age program, which provides childcare for parents who cannot afford the high cost of daycare; the Big Brothers / Big Sisters program and many others. “It’s going to be very challenging if we see a big cut in United Way funding,” Sheldon said. “We may have to cut some programming if we are unable to come up with other funds.”
For information on how you can help the annual campaign, call the Chenango United Way office at 334-8815.
At this time last year, the Chenango United Way had raised $401,000; unfortunately this year they have raised slightly more than half this amount. As of Dec. 1, the United Way reported raising only $244,000. “We have never been this far behind in the eight years I have been here,” said Chenango United Way Executive Director Elizabeth Monaco. “All of the local services rely on United Way funding each year to provide their services. If we do not raise enough money, some programs will be de-funded and a huge unmet need will occur.”
Each year, United Way dollars are used to fund programs for Opportunities for Chenango, Catholic Charities and The Place, along with many others. “The United Way is in the middle of all the good things that happen in this community,” said Craig Cashman of OFC. According to him, OFC primarily uses United Way dollars for four different programs: Headstart, which provides preschool services to low-income families; the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), the Transitional Housing program, provides shelter for homeless families; and a literacy volunteers program that provides basic literacy skills for individuals who do not know how to read. All of the programs would be adversely affected by a weak United Way Campaign, but the transitional housing program would be hit the hardest. “That program would be disbanded all together. It would be a dramatic shift for the community,” Cashman said, explaining that this is the only transitional housing program in the county.
Catholic Charities uses United Way dollars to fund programs for counseling, domestic violence, the Roots and Wings Food Pantry and emergency services, and the Catholic Charities center based child care. “Our counseling provides therapy to individuals, couples and families, preschool to adult,” said Catholic Charities Executive Director Jane Coddington. Many of the services available at Catholic Charities, including child care, are offered on a sliding scale. Families who cannot afford to pay as much, are charged a smaller amount. Without the United Way funding, the sliding scale would not be possible. “It would be devastating to the program to lose funding,” Coddington said. The Roots and Wings Food Pantry is another essential program. “It’s the only program in the county that is open five days a week, and we’re beginning to see more and more people. ” Coddington said. The smaller donations to the United Way campaign has Coddington a little worried. “We don’t know how we would make up the gap,” she said.
Perhaps the biggest effect of a weak United Way campaign would fall on The Place’s Dave Sheldon. “United Way dollars fund all but one program at The Place,” said Sheldon. Although The Place also relies heavily on grants, most of those require a local match of funds. The Place uses the money received from the United Way to provide the local match. Programs at The Place include the service learning program, which encourages middle school youth to get involved in community service; the school age program, which provides childcare for parents who cannot afford the high cost of daycare; the Big Brothers / Big Sisters program and many others. “It’s going to be very challenging if we see a big cut in United Way funding,” Sheldon said. “We may have to cut some programming if we are unable to come up with other funds.”
For information on how you can help the annual campaign, call the Chenango United Way office at 334-8815.
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