By Susan Redden
sredden@joplinglobe.com
The Carthage Area United Way is more than two-thirds of the way toward reaching its campaign goal of $310,000 for the year, volunteers were told Thursday.
Counts of pledges and contributions from various businesses and sectors involved in the campaign bring the total, thus far, to $206,834.63.
That’s 67 percent of the goal, said Jenny Mansfield, executive director, after the group’s final report luncheon at the Carthage First Baptist Church.
She said the campaign extends to February, with final collections to be announced at the group’s annual banquet on Feb. 5.
Meanwhile, campaign collections also are still under way for the Joplin-based United Way of Southwest Missouri, said Valerie Searcy, marketing director.
“We’re at about 80 percent of our goal right now,” she said. “Our campaign runs through the end of December, and we still have companies finishing collections.”
The goal for the campaign is $1.2 million, compared with $1.1 million a year ago.
In Kansas, United Way of Crawford County trimmed this year’s goal by $4,000, to $254,000.
The campaign reached 90 percent of its goal, said Niki Woods. She said the effort is “officially over” for the year, though pledges are continuing to come in.
The fund-raising driving in Carthage “has a ways to go, but I think we’ll get there,” Mansfield said after the report luncheon.
She wore a turkey costume for the event, which marked an early Thanksgiving celebration for volunteers who were served turkey, dressing and the trimmings.
The national economic downtown raises concern about the level of giving, Mansfield said, adding that the economy will make services from United Way agencies even more important.
“Carthage is always good about helping, and there are going to be people out there that need more help,” she said.
Last year, when the campaign’s goal was $300,000, pledges totaled $334,509.
Agencies supported by the Carthage organization are Boy Scouts, Camp Quality, Cerebral Palsy of Tri-County, Girl Scouts, Jasper County 4-H, American Red Cross, Carthage Crosslines, Family Literacy Council, Lafayette House, Carthage Salvation Army, Citizens Advisory Board, Carthage Crisis Center, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Carthage Community Clinic and Special Olympics.
Donations
Nate Dally, campaign chairman, said contributions to the Carthage Area United Way may be sent to the agency at P.O. Box 250, Carthage, MO 64836.
