Thunder Bay United Way appeals for more donations in final weeks of campaign

Superior Morning8:06United Way- Lagging Donations

Donations are lagging for Thunder Bay's United Way campaign. Jered Zieroth is a director for the agency.

With just a few weeks left, Thunder Bay's United Way is falling short in it's annual fundraising campaign.

United Way assistant director Jered Zieroth said the agency still needs to raise about $100,000 to meet this year's goal of more $2.6 million.

But Zieroth said he's confident people in Thunder Bay will come through.

"No one is going to take care of us, but ourselves. And so our community has a tendency to dig in and to help and to care for each other," he said.

"The shortfall that we're experiencing, I would say it's not the community's fault."

Tough economic times in the city are one reason for the shortfall in funds, he noted.

One in three people in the community rely on support and services provided by the United Way, Zieroth added.

The United Way campaign wraps up on Dec. 31.

United Way focuses on three areas:poverty, children and making safe communities.

Zieroth said the agency looks at how it can "make the largest impact in our community through the funds we collect."