Great effort in tough times by United Way

It was certainly one of those good news/bad news announcements.

The United Way of Southeastern Connecticut declared last week that it had exceeded its 2009 fundraising goal by nearly $90,751, bringing in about $6.4 million. That was no small achievement given the deepest recession since the organization formed 48 years ago.

The bad news was that the local United Way chapter, recognizing the difficult economic times, had dramatically trimmed back its donation goal after falling $2.2 million short of the prior year's target. But lowering expectations was the right move. Setting an unrealistic target, and then falling short, would have only sapped enthusiasm from those who led the fundraising charge.

Unfortunately, those economic conditions that make charitable fundraising more difficult also increase the social demands for help. The 32 member agencies that receive financial assistance from the United Way are forced to get by with less even as state support shrinks.

But without United Way where would they, and this community, be? The organization plays such an important role in meeting a range of social-service needs that its value cannot be overemphasized. The fundraising organizers deserve much credit for their successful effort, as do those individuals who continue to give generously even in these tough economic times.

It is important to remember that, unlike most chapters of the United Way, the southeastern Connecticut organization also directly administrates programs, including the Gemma E. Moran United Way Labor Food Center, which distributes more than 1.5 million pounds of food annually to the poor through 80 distribution sites. Also critical is Project Warm-up, which, in 2008, provided heating assistance to nearly 500 families.

We will not venture a guess when this recession will end. Most economists expect a slow recovery at best. But we can predict confidently that United Way will be there to help, supported liberally by the people who live here.