In an area with a lot of people out of work, an organization trying to raise money to help those in need finds itself struggling more than it would like.
The United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne counties, which serves as a clearinghouse for 23 nonprofit organizations, has raised about $2.1 million, or 60 percent, of its $3.5 million goal with just weeks to go before the campaign's closing celebration. Last year, the United Way raised about $3.7 million.
At Wednesday's meeting, fundraising co-chairman Tim Speicher and other volunteers discussed their challenge.
"It's a little less than what I'd like," he said of money already raised. "But it's a respectable benchmark at this stage of the campaign."
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area holds the distinction as having the highest unemployment rate - 9.4 percent in August - of the state's 14 metro areas for more than two years.
President and CEO of the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne counties Gary Drapek's 30 years of working in the nonprofit sector has exposed him to plenty of people in tough situations. However, as Mr. Drapek travels the area speaking to individuals and groups to encourage them to contribute to the United Way, he tells them how this year stands out.
"I've never seen requests for help like I've seen this year," he said.
Having volunteered with the United Way for many years, Mr. Speicher said co-chairing the annual campaign drive with this wife, JoAnn, has helped him see the needs in the community supported by the United Way and affiliated organizations. He said the level of giving by people during a challenging economic environment affirms his belief in the community's generosity.
Mr. Speicher said volunteers left the meeting Wednesday with a sense of urgency as the campaign's deadline looms.
"If we're working as hard as we can, we'll just have to work a little harder," he said.
Contact the writer: rward@timesshamrock.com, @rwardTT on Twitter