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WENTWORTH — Last year, Hospice of Rockingham County provided 400  under- or uninsured people with end-of-life care using United Way dollars, said Charlie Hall,  chairman  of United Way of Rockingham County’s 2009 campaign.

The Salvation Army served 6,700  people, 2,300  who had never sought help there before, he said.

“That really, to me, highlights the need in the county here lately,” Hall said during a campaign kickoff luncheon Thursday.

This year’s theme is “Live United.” The United Way is asking the community to raise $900,000  to support its member agencies.

Rick Hurley,  United Way’s executive director,  said the agency did not increase its goal in an effort to balance the need in the community with what people could afford to give.

Hurley said the Rockingham United Way was the only one in the Triad to make its goal last year.

But, he said, last year’s campaign also received $30,000  in one-time gifts that it can’t rely on this year.

And while the county’s unemployment rate dropped slightly to 13  percent in July, Hurley said those numbers do not give a complete picture of the county’s economic outlook. He has visited plants where people have not been laid off but are working fewer hours and are unable to pay for things such as medical expenses.

“Unfortunately, we need to do more,” Hurley said.

Hall said companies that  started their campaigns  early have already raised more than $75,000  toward the goal.

United Way of Rockingham County supports 20  member agencies, including the Red Cross, Salvation Army, the Boys and Girls Club of Eden, and the Madison-Rockingham Rescue Squad.

Steve Boles,  a volunteer  with the rescue squad, said United Way is one of its two biggest financial supporters.

In April, the United Way of Rockingham County announced a change in the way it would fund its agencies.

Programs that fall into its five areas of focus — ensuring successful youth, making sure residents’ basic needs are met, safety, health, and the elderly population — are likely to receive more  money.

Officials previously had considered an agency’s goals in deciding allocations.
 

Contact Jonnelle Davis at 627-4881, Ext. 126, or jonnelle .davis@news-record.com