United Way short $1 million, asks community for second round of donations to close the gap

The Syracuse Post-Standard reported that the United Way of Central New York is passing the hat again to offset a more than $1 million shortfall in its 2009 fundraising campaign that supports local food pantries, homeless shelters and other human service programs.

For the first time ever the non-profit will ask individuals and employers again during March to contribute to the campaign which began in the fall and closes April 15.

Many United Way agencies’ budgets are shrinking at the same they are seeing sharp increases in demand for services, according to Frank Lazarski, United Way president. The food pantry at Huntington Family Centers on Syracuse’s West Side, for example, has served as many people in six months as it expected to serve in a full year. Read more here.