The United Way has run into some problems. Giving is down, and the organizaton has not met its campaign fundraising goal of $515,000.

Dave Bonnerup, the campaign chair for the 2002 United Way fund drive, says the slumping economy has been the major factor in the slow fundraising.

&uot;The community has been really supportive,&uot; he explained. &uot;But with the economy, people were a little concerned about their money. Businesses aren’t able to give as much. There is a lot of uncertainty out there.&uot;

The uncertainty has translated into 91 percent of the total fundraising goal being met.

The organization raises the funds to allocate to 17 different non-profit, community-service agencies in Freeborn County.

But the target date for these funds to be raised was Christmas time. That time has passed, and since then, the fundraising has dragged.

Bonnerup said the drive got behind last year as well.

&uot;Last year we were really concerned about it. With the Farmland fire and all those left unemployed, the giving was down,&uot; he said.

But the effects of a down economy are bad on both ends for the United Way.

State aid to the agencies in the area may get cuts, Bonnerup said, and that will mean they become even more dependent on the allocation of funding from the United Way.

&uot;On top of that, the agencies are supporting people who have need, and there are more people who are in need,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s kind of a double-edged sword for these agencies.&uot;

In some other counties, United Way goals have been met despite economic problems. In Mower County, for instance, the agency has met its goal of $775,000 for the year.

Bonnerup said he hopes that the Freeborn County goal can be reached by February, but if it’s not it will just mean less money for allocation.

&uot;We really would like to reach that goal,&uot; he said.