CONTRIBUTED PHOTO One of the only fundraising events the United Way was able to host this year was a golf tournament at the American Legion Golf Course on June 26. The event raised $8,200. The United Way has a goal of $780,000 for this year’s campaign.

The Marshalltown Area United Way is slightly behind pace in hitting its fundraising goal of $780,000 this year.

The organization normally increases its campaign goal every year, but this year has been anything but normal.

Executive director Nancy Steveson said one of the reasons the campaign is running behind is some businesses don’t have employees on site, making it difficult to raise the usual funds from those businesses.

“The next 30 days are going to be really critical for us getting the campaign wrapped up,” Steveson said.

The organization helps fund 27 nonprofit agencies in Marshall County. These agencies provide services for people of all ages. Some included are Big Brothers Big Sisters, Youth Shelter Services, the Salvation Army and Arc of Marshall County.

“These agencies make such a difference in our community from birth to death and beyond,” said Lynne Carroll, co-chair of the United Way board and director of Big Brothers Big Sisters. “We are a much richer community because of these agencies.”

Carroll said United Way funding is one of the few consistent funding streams her organization can rely on, especially in a year when many of their own fundraising events could not be held.

“As a nonprofit you can’t always be guaranteed the donations and the fundraising will happen like you’ve planned,” Carroll said.

One of the few fundraising events the United Way was able to hold was a golf tournament, held June 26, which raised $8,200. The tournament only fielded about half as many teams as it normally would to allow competitors to be safely spaced out.

As if a pandemic hadn’t been a large enough hit to the United Way’s year, derecho caused the organization to move from its home in the Fisher Community Center to a temporary location in the Y Cultural Center, 705 S. Center Street.

“That in itself has caused problems,” Steveson said.

The United Way was the first place of employment Steveson had when moving to Marshalltown in 1978. She’s been the executive director for 25 years. This is her last yearly campaign as she will retire in February.

“The reason I stay here is I love my job. I love the opportunity to work with the volunteers,” she said. “I love the opportunity to get to know so many people in the community. Once I found out what United Way did, I believed in what they’re doing. I feel like I’m helping the community. Personally, that’s an important factor in my life.”

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Contact Joe Fisher at 641-753-6611

or jfisher@timesrepublican.com