United Way increases its goal

It’s the time of the year to give to the United Way of Oconee, to help the community’s unfortunate.  History shows total United Way giving took a dip during the tough times of the last decade, but David McCutcheon says United Way is on “a steady, but slow pace to move up.”  McCutcheon’s colleague, Allison Smith, announced $600 thousand dollars today as the goal of the new campaign.  That’s an increase from last year’s successful drive that reached $500 thousand.  Smith will manage this year’s campaign.  Smith led a campaign kick-off breakfast today through a game which identified the three building blocks of the United Way to help a community meet the needs of its less fortunate citizens.  At times, the needs are basic such as giving away a bar of soap, which the United Way is set up to do.  The United Way accepts donations of any amount.  Some of the larger contributions are raised by the employees of the county’s workforce—such as Schneider Electric, Duke Energy, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, Oconee Federal Savings and Loan, and the Oconee School District.