The non-profit is about $25,000 short of its $560,000.00 goal and there's just 5 days left to get there. Funds raised support local people, programs and initiatives that are meeting current and emerging needs in the community. Resources are directed towards work in basic needs--the UWSWMN's five focus areas are education, income (financial stability), health, hunger and safety & well-being.

 Last year about 45 programs benefited from the campaign affecting more than 39,000 local people. This includes programming that serves people from birth through the end of their lifetime and every step in between. For a complete list of supported programs please visit the United Way website at www.UnitedWaySWMN.org or call 507-929-2273 for more information.

"The needs of those we impact across rural SW MN are deep and complex. If we don't make the goal, local people that need the help will suffer, and we want to ensure that that's not happening. Grant requests last year were 47% more than dollars available. We take our commitment to invest in the people and future of SW MN very seriously" said Marcy Heemeyer, Executive Director of the United Way of Southwest Minnesota.

 The campaign runs through January 31, 2015. Donations can be made online at www.UnitedWaySWMN.org or mailed to UWSWMN, PO Box 41, Marshall, MN 56258. The United Way is located in the RLC Building at 109 S. 5th Street, Suite 300, Marshall, MN. 

The organization serves Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Yellow Medicine and portions of Cottonwood, Lac qui Parle, Nobles, and Redwood counties. This includes the following school districts (private, public and charter): Canby, Clarkfield, Dawson/Boyd, Echo, Fulda, Hendricks, Ivanhoe, Lake Benton, Lakeview, Lynd, Marshall, Milroy, Minneota, Murray County Central, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Tracy Area, Westbrook-Walnut Grove and Yellow Medicine East.