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BY STEVE CAMPBELL
Rappahannock Newt Special Writer
The lingering affects of a national scandal and a slow start to the fundraising year has the Piedmont United Way struggling to catch up in order to meet its goal of $190,000 in pledges by Thanksgiving.
Piedmont United Way, which represents a fivecounty region including Fauquier, Culpeper, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock counties, officially began its 1993 fimdraising season in August.
With three weeks remaining to collect pledges, the agency has only received 30.5 percent of its goal or $58,000. This time last year, PUW was 41 percent of the way completed with $71,000 in pledges collcted toward a goal of $175,000.
“We are not where we should be,” said Betty Roberts, Pew’s executive director.
Ms. Roberts said a combination of a bad economy, the bad publicity from last year’s national United Way scandal, and a slow start to this year’s fundraising are all reasons why giving is down this year.
Though giving is down, Ms. Roberts said the needs this year are as high as ever.
“We are seeing a much greater need than last year. I would say that needs are up well over 50 percent of what they were last year,” Ms. Roberts said.
PUW chairman Francis Burns said its important for county residents to realize that their giving enables many other agencies, such as the Fauquier Temporary Family Shelter, to meet the needs area families.
Stefanie van Gulden, of the shelter, said without the contribution of Piedmont United Way, her organization would not be able to provide emergency assistance to homeless families.
Fauquier Temporary Family Shelter provides longer-term transitional housing, homeless prevention, housing counseling and support to area residents.
The PUW’s annual contribution to the shelter provides approximately 10 percent of its budget. The funds are used to provide emergency services such as medical and dental care, uniforms for jobs, and even auto repairs.
“We’ve had to funnel a lot of our United Way money into emergency services,” Ms. van Gulden said.
Also, PUW’s contribution provides funding for a case manager without whom “I quite honestly don’t see how we can run the program,” she said.
Lynda Reuter, director of Facility for Occupational Rehabilitative Enterprises Inc., in Remington, said PUW’s funding allows her agency to provide services to clients who are not covered by other state or federal funding sources.
FORe offers vocational evaluation, work adjustment training and sheltered employment of handicapped individuals.
87.6%