By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The United Way of Ellis County announced it has exceeded its goal for the 2021 campaign.
The organization set a goal of $350,000 and received $355,198 as of the end of January.
This exceeded the $328,000 that the agency raised in 2020.
Allocations for the United Way's partner agencies should remain the same this year, said Erica Berges, executive director. The group's Care Council met this week, and funding amounts should be announced by the end of the month.
United Way dipped into its reserves last year so it could sustain funding to its partner agencies at the same amount as previous years, and the organization will do that again this year to a lesser degree, Berges said.
"There are still those people in need, and I think we are going to see that again this coming year with people still struggling with the rise of prices and getting back into jobs," she said.
Berges said she knew United Way would be close to reaching its goal this year and then some individuals and businesses stepped up and gave more than expected.
Berges said she and her staff have tried to stay more connected with businesses, as well made attempts to reach younger donors by offering a donation option through Venmo.
"Hopefully, we can take this momentum with us into next year and raise the same amount or even more," Berges said.
She said she hopes to work with the United Way's partner agencies to further exhibit how the money raised affects people in the community.
"People loved the success stories," Berges said. "It's not about United Way. It's these partner agencies and the services they provide."
Berges also wanted to offer a big thank you to the community for stepping up and helping United Way reach its goal.
United Way funded 16 partner agencies in 2021. They included:
• American Red Cross
• Big Brothers Big Sisters
• Cancer Council of Ellis County
• Catholic Charities
• Center for Life Experience
• Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation
• CASA of the High Plains
• Development Services of Northwest Kansas
• Early Childhood Connections
• First Call for Help
• Hays Area Children's Center
• Hays Senior Center
• Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services
• Parents and Children Together
• Western Kansas Association on the Concerns for the Disabled
• Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center