United Way Estevan will be looking to raise $338,000 this year to satisfy the needs of the organization鈥檚 17 member agencies and three community impact projects.
The theme for the organization this year will be Lead the Way.
President Wendy Gustafson said the local Untied Way chapter got a good start to the year through the Day of Caring event, held on June 10, which saw volunteers from across the community lending a helping, neighbourly hand to get small, but significant, projects complete across the city.
鈥淚t turned out very, very good. We had some donations get made. We had a little basket at the barbecue, and people were very generous there,鈥� said Gustafson.
The Day of Caring is one of the organization鈥檚 community impact projects. The other two see funding going to the Hillcrest School鈥檚 breakfast program and Challenge Day at the Estevan Comprehensive School.
Though the $338,000 target is a lofty goal that has been met in years past, Gustafson said the United Way understands Estevan businesses and other supporters are operating in a different economic climate than in the past.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 ignore the fact that this year, things are a little tougher. That the economy isn鈥檛 quite what it was,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut we have faith in our community and know this community and the surrounding area has always been very generous and works hard.鈥�
United Way Estevan raises the majority of its annual fundraising goal at the group鈥檚 annual telethon. This year鈥檚 telethon will begin on Oct. 16 and will run through to the next day.
This year鈥檚 target is a little lower than 2014鈥檚 goal of $340,000. The target was met, and by the end of last year鈥檚 telethon, the group had raised more than $347,000.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be tough to make it but we鈥檙e really positive about it,鈥� added Gustafson.
She said for those who are interested in donating items to be auctioned off during the October telethon, the United Way is accepting goods now, in an effort to avoid 小蓝视频 overcome by items at the last minute.
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking forward to the fall coming up. We鈥檙e really positive and excited. Everybody is on board, and we鈥檙e ready to hit our goal,鈥� said Gustafson, who added the group is grateful for whatever they are able to raise for their member agencies.聽
