CHENANGO COUNTY – Chenango United Way hung up its first sticker of the year on the thermometer outside of NBT Bank on Wednesday marking 13 percent of its Fall 2018 campaign fundraising goal.

Chenango United Way Executive Director/CPO Elizabeth Monaco said they've raised $52,910 so far of their $419,000 campaign goal to go towards funding 22 community programs and 14 food kitchens and soup pantries in 2019, and added she expects that number to jump in the coming weeks.

"I feel good about this year's campaign but it's still really early so we're cautiously optimistic," said Monaco. "We just never know until we get it in."

This year's campaign benefits the same programs, food kitchens, and soup pantries as last year's campaign as Chenango United Way undertook a two-year funding campaign for the first time. It also benefits Chenango United Way's Dental Task Force, foster bags initiative, ALICE Project, and Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

"I think what's cool about this year is, because it's two-year funding these organizations have been not guaranteed a specific dollar amount for next year, but they're guaranteed that they will receive funding," said Monaco. "So they're counting on this money to be able to continue to do the work that they started in 2018 to carry it over into 2019 and continue to serve the clients they're already working with."