The United Way of Greater High Point ran an ‘amazing’ campaign, said Sandi Norman, executive director of Communities In Schools of Randolph County.

The campaign, led by Leah Price, which raised $4,336,572, fell short of its $4,525,000 goal. Here is the amazing part.

“For the third straight year, the United Way of Greater High Point, which serves High Point, Archdale, Trinity and Jamestown, had one of the very best campaigns among the 70 United Way organizations throughout North Carolina,” said Bobby Smith, president of the organization.

This is remarkable considering the economic situation, Norman added.

“Although CIS, like the other agencies, received a cut in our allocations, we are grateful for the help the United Way provides for our programs in the Archdale-Trinity area,” said Norman.

Archdale Senior Center also experienced cuts, as all the United Way partners did, but Joy Branning, director, said United Way money is a godsend for senior citizens.

“Because of United Way funding, senior citizens in Archdale, Trinity and Sophia are provided with free transportation, socialization, nutritious meals, insurance counseling, prescription assistance and a safe environment that otherwise would not be provided without the help of United Way,” she said. “Without United Way, we could not serve the 40 plus seniors we are serving at this time.”

The allocations are decided through Program Review Teams, which included Archdale-Trinity volunteers. More than $3.2 million dollars will be allocated in July to nonprofit agencies. Last year, the agency allocated almost the same amount, less than a 1 percent difference.

Just like its nonprofit partners, United Way itself made cutbacks. United Way’s internal budget was reduced by 5 percent for the second consecutive year, with the intent to keep dollars for use by partner agencies, said Smith.

Norman sympathizes with the cutbacks. “Like everyone else in the nonprofit world, we are faced with doing more with less as the needs are greater while the resources are fewer.”

The United Way’s 10 full-time staff members do more than fundraise for partner agencies. They coordinate efforts that benefit other nonprofits, like Community Outreach of Archdale-Trinity.

In May, United Way worked with letter carriers for a food drive. For COAT, that meant more than 5,000 pounds of food. In total, the drive raised more than 35,000 pounds, a new record. United Way also assists COAT with its BackPack Program.

Some allocations come directly to Archdale-Trinity nonprofits. However, Archdale-Trinity residents are eligible for services from some of the High Point agencies.