United Way well short of fundraising target

By Jenna Leslie

BELLEVILLE – The executive director of the United Way of Hastings and Prince Edward says she is worried that the organization will not meet its fundraising goal this year.

Unless it receives donations from some unknown sources, it will be difficult to achieve the 2016 target of $2,115,600, Judi Gilbert says.

The annual fall campaign has not had the success this year that it has in the past. In fact, over the past few years, donations to the organization have been declining significantly, Gilbert told QNet News.

This year’s campaign kicked off in September. So far, it has only met a little over half of its goal. That means it still needs to come up with nearly $1.1 million before Dec. 31.

Gilbert said she knew going into this year’s campaign that it would be difficult. Last year, the organization only came in $760 over its goal.

The decline has not been a surprise to the organization, she said: “We certainly saw some of the same barriers last year, but those same things have evolved a little bit more.”

There have been layoffs in local workplaces, and some people just do not have the disposable income that they used to, she said. These factors are taken into consideration when planning for the annual campaign begins. The organization is not blind to the fact that it is becoming harder for people to donate their money, Gilbert said.

“There’s a lot of competition going on out there for fewer dollars.”

While the United Way hosts its own signature events like a food truck rally, a casino night and the Procter and Gamble community sale, it relies heavily on workplace campaigns – companies encouraging their employees to donate.

Out of the $2.1 million raised last year, 72 per cent was from workplaces in the area, with the money coming from payroll deductions, special events like 50-50 draws and bake sales, and corporate donations.

According to Gilbert, more head offices of big participating companies in the area are taking over and making the decisions for the local operations. That means fewer of those local workplaces have a say in where their money is going, she said.

The United Way of Hastings and Prince Edward keeps everything it raises within the community.

“The dollars that are raised here stay here,” Gilbert said. That’s why it is very important for the organization to meet its goal, she added.

Fewer donations mean less money that will be going back into programs within the community. Nearly 55,000 people used these programs last year, with one of three people in this area being touched by United Way agencies.

“It’s my family members, it’s your colleagues and it’s our friends,” Gilbert said.