With just days to go in the annual fundraising campaign, the United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County is inching ever closer to reaching their goal despite a recent setback in their donations.

“We were very much projected to exceed our goal,” said United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County Community Impact Coordinator Crystal Carter.

However, those projections included an anticipated donation that came in well below what was expected. When Carter County residents who work in Washington or Sullivan Counties give to United Way through workplace campaigns, those donations first go to the United Way chapters in those communities but are then redirected to the United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County.

This year’s donations turned over by the United Way of Kingsport fell short of the projections, according to Carter.

“We thought we would be in line with what we received last year, which was around $22,000,” Carter said, adding the donations came in at approximately $13,000. “It dropped around $10,000. That was a blow.”

Despite the setback, Carter remains positive about the local United Way’s campaign.

“We still expect we will meet our goal,” Carter said. “The projection is there that we will meet, but I doubt we will greatly exceed it.”

While the drop in donations can be disheartening, Carter said there are still positives to focus on.

“All of our agencies are funded, that’s the most important thing,” Carter said. “It should be their full funding. I don’t foresee that it’s going to get cut as it did a few years ago.”

Any amount raised over the goal will go to help support other United Way projects in the community that support the agency’s mission of fighting for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community.

“As always, the more donations we have, the more we can do with those donations,” Carter said.

There is still time to make a donation to the United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County. The fundraising campaign will continue until Jan. 31, and there are a number of ways to donate.

Those interested in donating to the United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County — whether a one-time gift or a recurring monthly pledge — can do so in a variety of ways. Donations can be mailed to United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County, P.O. Box 1715, Elizabethton, TN 37644. Carter said she can also take donations being made with a credit or debit card over the phone by calling the office at 423-543-6975.

Donations can also be made online by visiting their website at www.uwayecc.org or following a link from their Facebook page.