NORWICH – With a new fundraising campaign season in full swing, the Chenango County United Way faces what could possibly be its worst campaign in over two decades and coordinators are reaching out to the community to help turn things around.

Each year, the Chenango United Way funnels money collected through its annual campaign to local programs and non profit organizations that align with its mission to improve the quality of life for local residents, specifically in the areas of income, education and health.

“It has been 20 years since we have had a campaign below $400,000,” said Chenango United Way Executive Director Elizabeth Monaco. “We are very concerned about the direction where this year’s campaign is headed. To be below 80 percent at this point is not where we want to be.”

The Chenango United Way this year set a fundraising goal of $456,000– approximately $12,000 more than was raised when it reached its goal in 2012. Despite the campaign’s strong start in September, money coming in has tapered in recent weeks, leaving the campaign committee wondering how the agency will help sustain the 28 community programs and 18 food pantries and soup kitchens in the county that rely on United Way funding to keep their doors open.