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GREENSBORO — Operation Greensboro Cares, a fundraising effort to meet emergency needs, has raised more than $200,000 but still has reached only about half of its goal, organizers said Monday.

“This is a good start,” said United Way President Keith Barsuhn. “It’s very gratifying to know that our community has stepped up in what is still a very difficult economic time for many.”

The effort also announced the distribution of much of the money it has raised, with the funds going to help area residents meet basic needs such as food, shelter and heat.

Agencies receiving funds include Greensboro Urban Ministry and the Salvation Army, among others.

Efforts aimed at food emergencies are receiving 25 percent of the money, shelter efforts 30 percent and emergency assistance 45 percent.

Shanna Reece, deputy director of The Servant Center, which will be receiving $26,000 of the initial funds raised, said the money would go toward expanding its food pantry.

The hope is that the money will last the expansion throughout next year, and that by then other funds will be found to keep it going, she said.

The ultimate success of the campaign could be determined in the next week. Organizers say the intent is to wrap up the campaign by the end of the month, but that no decision has been made.

Meanwhile, donors have contributed $75,000 in funds that would match what the community raises from this point forward.

Meeting that amount by the end of the month is not guaranteed.

“That would probably mean stepping up the pace,” Barsuhn said.

Still, that pace has been increasing since the campaign began earlier in the month. The first few weeks were relatively slow, but donations have begun to pour in more quickly, Barsuhn said.

The needs are still greater than the money that has been raised, officials said. The $223,000 raised will help during the first part of the winter, but a similar amount is needed to meet needs through the rest of the season, they said.

Monday’s announcements also included an appearance from former Olympian Joey Cheek. Cheek said the weather made a good case for giving, noting temperatures that were in the 20s.

“If anything can drive home the point ... a day like this can really make that clear,” he said.

Cheek said the funds would go toward fundamental human needs. “These are people that you can see every single day,” he said. “They need food and shelter and water. These are basic necessities.”

Contact Jason Hardin at 373-7021 or at jason.hardin@news-record.com