County United Way meet goal

By BETH LAKEY

Staff Writer

If pledges do not starting rolling in, the Pike County United Way will be in trouble.

As of Tuesday, $18,937.49 pledged for the 2000 Campaign has not been collected.

And, time is running out for the organization which funds 14 different agencies in Pike County.

Without those pledges and more for Campaign 2001, the following agencies will not get all the money they need for operation: Alabama Easter Seals Society, American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, East Central Mental Health, 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, Colley Senior Complex and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pike County.

"Some of them will come in," said United Way secretary Jane Thrash. "I know they will."

Of the amount that hasn’t been received, some of the dollars are provided through payroll deduction at area businesses.

Others will wait to write a check so they can get that last-minute tax write off for this year.

Already, collections for next year are coming in and pledges are down.

"We’re hurting for the 2000-1 year," Thrash said.

It appears that those who have given to the United Way in the past, are not giving now.

Contributions may be down, but the demand is not and that is the trouble.

"Right now, we have no operational money," Thrash said.

That does not include the fact the United Way Board has been forced to reduce its allocations to the different agencies because the money just is not available.

Although it was little comfort to the board members gathered Tuesday, Thrash said "We’re not the only ones struggling."

Some fund-raising efforts are in the works, but United Way Board President Doc Kirby said he is hoping Pike County citizens will give because of the good the money will do.

Donations to the United Way can be mailed to P.O. Box 204, Troy, Alabama 36081.