Staff Writer

The Pike County United Way 2002 Campaign is underway and board members are hoping to fully fund agencies, in the upcoming year.

Operating on a $100,000 budget, the Pike County United Way Board had to prorate funding to its 15 agencies by 50 percent because fund-raising efforts were not successful, this year.

In August, prorated checks were sent out to the agencies. The third-quarter checks were paid in full, Jane Thrash, secretary/bookkeeper for the United Way, said during a board meeting earlier this week.

"The fourth quarter is what we owe," Thrash said. "If the money comes in, we won’t have a prorated year."

In 2000, about $97,000 was raised and, this year, the amount pledged was only $76,000.

Thrash said there is still about $22,000 in outstanding pledges that must come in for the 2001 campaign.

Doc Kirby, president of the United Way Board, said he’s "pleased collections are a little better," but asked those who have not fulfilled their promise to do so.

"We rely on that money to help people of all kinds," Kirby said.

"The last two years, it’s been a struggle to meet the campaign," Thrash said.

But, this situation is not new to the local United Way, which has been operating in proration since 1996, Thrash said.

"Instead of cutting, we were hoping we could raise $130,000, but we weren’t able to," Thrash said of the 2001 campaign.

Kirby pointed out it is easy to give through payroll deduction.

"We, desperately, need people to support

us in payroll giving," Kirby said. "You can do it easily and help those in need."

Officially, the campaign began with a Sept. 20 kickoff that involved representatives of all the agencies funded by United Way.

In Pike County, the United Way provides funding to Alabama Easter Seals Society, American Red Cross, Boy Scouts, East Central Mental Health-Mental Retardation, Girl Scouts, Pike County 4-H Clubs, RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program), the House of Ruth, Pike County Christmas Program, Troy Charity League, Salvation Army, Pike County YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pike County, Colley Senior Complex and the Pike County Fire fighters Association.

"We need to make people realize they are investing in the future by becoming a part of the Pike County United Way," Thrash said.

One of the points she and agency representatives have is the fact all the money raised in Pike County stays in Pike County.

Donations to the Pike County United Way can be sent to P.O. Box 204, Troy, AL 36081.