NORWICH – In the midst of its 2013 annual fundraising campaign, the Chenango County United Way is turning its attention to destitute households in hopes of increasing the long-term financial security of families and individuals throughout the county.
The 2013 United Way campaign is in full swing. This year, the Chenango United Way fundraising committee has its sights on a $444,000 goal – slightly higher than last year’s. Although committee members are optimistic about reaching the benchmark, according to Chenango United Way Director Elizabeth Monaco, this year presents new challenges in addressing the issue of local poverty and financial stability.
“It’s the most challenging issue to address in this community,” Monaco explained, citing the organization’s focus address long term financial security of Chenango County families. “So many people in the county struggle with income to meet their financial needs. We have a lot of people in a working class who are the working poor. Even with two incomes, they’re still making very difficult decisions.”
To combat the matter of poverty nationwide, the American United Way aims to cut in half the number of lower income families who are financially unstable by 2018. While such a milestone presents impressive hurdles for Chenango County, the local United Way maintains its vision to help poverty-stricken families gain financial dependence, increase income, build savings, and grow their assets so they might reduce their debt and work toward goals like postsecondary education, stable housing, business or retirement. Last January, a total $100,748 (27 percent) of United Way funding was allocated to local agencies committed helping the working poor.
Since 2007, Chenango County Roots and Wings has applied for United Way funding to preserve its mission of lending vulnerable families a “hand up.” According to Gary Quarella, director of Community Outreach Programs for Catholic Charities of Chenango County, United Way funding allows Roots and Wings to hire helping staff, thereby permitting him to focus on volunteers working at the agency in order to receive Temporary Assistance of Needy Families (TANF).
