The United Way is seeking your support for this year's campaign. The demand for services has continued to increase over the last two years with a large jump in call volume to its 24/7 211 Portage line (aka First Call For Help). Since 2007, United Way 211 Portage has seen an increase of 61.2 % in requests for assistance locating services, from 12,742  in 2007 to 20,544 in 2009.  In the first nine (9) months of 2010, 211 Portage has had 15,478 requests for assistance locating services.  Many of those calls were for basic needs; food, housing, material goods, temporary financial assistance, and transportation.  In 2007, 7,398, or 48.6% of the services requested were for these basic needs.  In 2009, that number rose to 12,378, or 53.3%.  In the first nine (9) months of 2010, 9,160, or 53.5% of all requests are for assistance locating basic needs.

" A small donation can go along way to helping people in need this year" said Steve Kleiber, President & CEO of United Way of Portage County. "These programs help those in need only because of community support" said Steve Kleiber.

The United Way of Portage County is in the middle of its 2010 annual campaign.  

The campaign funds more than 40 local health & human service programs in our community.  The community wide campaign is composed of workplace drives, corporate donations and community members that participate by sending a donation directly to United Way.

"This will be a crucial year for our local United Way"  said Steve Kleiber, we are struggling to maintain donations from a smaller base yet the needs are creating increased demand for services"

If you would like to help those in need this year you can do so by giving at www.uwportage.org or by mail to P.O. Box 845 Ravenna, OH 44266 or call United Way at 330.297.1424 ext. 112 or 113