MiddletownJournal.com

MIDDLETOWN — Hit hard by the economic downturn, the Middletown Area United Way announced Friday, Dec. 19, that it will cut funding by about 2½ percent to area nonprofit agencies.

The United Way projected it would raise $1.3 million for its 2008 annual campaign, but officials say some pledges have yet to arrive.

Director Mike Sanders said the cuts come at a time when nonprofit agencies are seeing a growing demand for service, but funding coming from federal, state and local sources is taking a nosedive.

"It's going to be difficult because we have agencies like the Salvation Army that are seeing tremendous increases as a result of the economy,'' Sanders said. "Requests (for utility assistance and food) are up, but resources are less.''

The Middletown Area United Way is not alone.

The Butler County United Way failed to reach its annual campaign target for two years, forcing the agency to eliminate two administrative positions and make other changes weeks ago. Officials are trying to raise $300,000 to prevent drastic cuts to nonprofit agencies.

Sanders said merging with the United Way of Greater Cincinnati in 1996 helped Middletown keep operating costs low, leaving more funding for the nonprofits it serves. But keeping pace with area demand is difficult, he said.

Salvation Army of Middletown programs received a 1 percent cut for 2009.

"That's 781 bucks, almost half of what we spend at Shared Harvest (Foodbank) every month to purchase food for our pantry,'' said Maj. Doug Hart, commander of the Middletown chapter. "We're serving 225-250 people every month. When you consider that, it helps you understand how that 1 percent cut makes a big difference.''

Hart said donations are up at the red kettles, but with so many agencies in need, he worries community help will run dry.

"How many times can we keep going to the well?" he asked.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2180 or tlatta@coxohio.com.