Community service organizations reaped the benefits Tuesday of a
successful United Way of San Benito County campaign that collected
more than $100,000 to donate to local programs.
Community service organizations reaped the benefits Tuesday of a successful United Way of San Benito County campaign that collected more than $100,000 to donate to local programs.
During the annual United Way Allocation Dinner, 17 service agencies received a share of the $120,000 United Way raised during its yearly campaign drive.
Organizations received amounts ranging from $2,500 to $28,000, and Community Pantry Executive Director Tom Larkin said any funding the group receives helps to feed hungry families.
“Right now, we are just trying to maintain what we have,” he said.
United Way met its goal for this year of $120,000 and raised the bar to $125,000 for its coming campaign.
A majority of this year’s funds were collected through the United Way’s payroll deduction program, which was the focus of the campaign.
Chapter president Mary Damm said volunteers put in a lot of hard work and “got the word out.”
“The United Way board has such talented people who put in a lot of long hours,” she said.
Damm said the reason she likes the program is because it makes the community a better place.
“This gives people who work and live here a chance to help their neighbors,” she said.
Last year, United Way was $15,000 short of its goal, but donated funds to 18 local organizations. Treasurer Carrie Lorenz said because the organization met its goal this year, United Way was able to donate more money to the service groups that applied.
Director Rich Peterson said United Way received about 26 applications, of which many were returning agencies that seek funds each year.
About a half a dozen new requests were also submitted, but not everyone completed the paperwork process, he added.
“You can’t fill it out (application) in a few minutes. Hopefully next year those filling out the applications will be able to better respond to the forms,” Peterson said.
Although United Way kept the donated amounts sealed in envelopes, Leslie Hoffmann, director of Pet Friends, said it did not matter how much each service agency received because any amount helps each group’s cause.
“We realize there are other organizations in the community with needs greater than ours, but any amount helps us to run our program,” she said.
