United Way still working to reach goal

Published 1:00 am Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Star Photo/Brandon Hicks The United Way is clos e to meeting their goal.

With just 15 days remaining in the 2015 campaign, the Elizabethton/Carter County United Way still has 17 percent of the campaign goal to raise.

As of Monday afternoon, the agency had collected $133,510 of the $160,000 goal, leaving $26,490 to be raised by the end of the month.

Subscribe to our free email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

“The money does continue to come in,” Tinney said. “It has been coming in a little slower, but we are still receiving contributions.”

The agency is still waiting on some outstanding pledges from other United Way chapters and businesses to be sent in for the year. The Dine United fundraiser also wrapped up last week and tallies are being collected.

“We think we are going to raise between $800 and $1,200 from that,” Tinney said. “That is a big range, but we are waiting to hear back from some of the restaurants. The feedback we have gotten from food service is that they want to continue to do this. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to do it. It just takes some coordination to increase visibility.”

Concerns are still lingering that funding to agencies supported by the United Way may have to be lowered. The United Way is facing a possible two years combined shortfall if the 2014 campaign is included, board Chairwoman Candy Craig said. For the 2014 campaign, the United Way finished with $145,000 of its $160,000 goal, leaving $15,000 left unfunded.

Combined with those concerns is the possibility of unfunded pledges. In 2014, close to $9,000 in pledges to United went uncollected, Craig said.

“It is kind of a shuffling act,” she said. “We really need to take a closer look at this. Who I am really concerned about are the clients who will come to these agencies for help — the mother who needs food for her child or someone else who needs assistance.”

Contributions are still being accepted and can be made online at uwayecc.org or through the mail at P.O. Box 1715, Elizabethton, 37643. For more information call 543-6975.