Bryant Larsen and 48 other United Way of Utah County allocation committee volunteers are currently determining the monetary future of local United Way agencies.
As more people in Utah County need assistance from United Way agencies to get housing, food, and, in some cases, protection, the agencies' coffers need more funds to provide programs.During the next few weeks, five teams of volunteers will visit the more than 20 United Way of Utah County agencies to determine where current campaign money should go. Each agency will present its budget needs and how it plans to use the money.
"All of us (volunteers) are from different backgrounds - different eyes are viewing the agencies," Larsen said. "We learn about what they do. Most of them are existing on minimal resources, and total campaign amounts may not be able to cover all the budget request needs - and that's tough."
The concern is that, although donations continue to rise each year, needs are growing at an even faster rate.
"This year agencies have been given the challenge to adjust to the changing community needs," said Bill Hulterstrom, United Way of Utah County president.
Those changing community needs, according to a 1993 needs assessment include employment, housing, health care, and help for dysfunctional families. Campaign donations from area residents will go to meet those needs.
Campaign projections for this year are at $1.5 million, and current campaign totals have reached 86.5 percent ($873,000) of that projection. Total donations in the 1993 campaign, which exceeded $1 million for the first time, represented a 4 percent increase over the 1992 campaign.
While the allocations committees listen to the agencies' financial needs, they will also be given a "wish list" of what the agencies would like to have in the future.
The Center for Women and Children in Crisis would like a full-time victim advocate and a full-time rape-crisis coordinator. Community Action Services would like to own and operate sufficient warehouse space for the agency's food bank. It would also like to have three full-functioning family transitional housing facilities and one men's transitional house.
Other agencies, like the Family Support and Treatment Center, need larger facilities to accommodate the rapid growth in clientele. Currently the center is housed in an inadequate building. The Community Nursing and Hospice would like an adult day-care facility and Recreation and Habilitation Services would like a 20-unit integrated housing complex.