Advance the Common Good is the theme of this year’s United Way campaign, which benefits nonprofit agencies across Northwest Montana. The monetary goal for the campaign is $804,803. Last year’s drive raised $739,246. Ninety-nine percent of all funds raised stay in local communities to help local citizens.

As the United Way kicks off its annual fundraising drive, many member agencies are facing huge increases in the need for their services, some as much as 40 or 50 percent over last year, according to Sherry Stevens, executive director of the local United Way.

Last year, United Way agencies served 2.1 million meals to 13,524 individuals through donated food; prepared 80,846 meals for 1,124 people in shelters and child and youth programs; spent 13,120 hours tutoring 455 adults in reading, math, English or life skills; provided 23,797 nights of temporary emergency shelter to 799 men, women and children; and helped 9,705 teenagers in 27 alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention activities. All told, 4,080 youth, adults and senior citizens gave 72,062 volunteer hours to the community.

Current member agencies are Big Brothers and Sisters, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs of Glacier Country, Eagle Transit, Flathead CARE, Flathead Food Bank, Flathead Youth Home, Girl Scouts, Head Start, Help Net — First Call for Help, Literacy Volunteers, Mental Health Crisis Line, Nurturing Center, Retired & Senior Volunteer Program, Samaritan House, Sinopah House, Special Friends Advocacy Program, Summit Independent Living Center and the Violence Free Crisis Line and Abbie Shelter.

Supported services include CASA for Kids, Disaster Care Services, Gateway Community Center, Leaders of Tomorrow Montana 211 Database Project, the United Way Volunteer Center and Youth Suicide Prevention Project.

Emergency food and shelter programs supported include Bread Basket, Community Harvest Food Bank, DOVES, Helping Hands, Hot Springs Food Pantry, Lake County Mental Health Center, Lamplighter House Kitchen, Libby Food Pantry, Libby Food and Shelter Services, Mission Valley Food Pantry, Neighbors in Need, North Valley Food Bank, Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry, Salvation Army Meal Program, Sanders County Coalition for Families, Thompson Falls Food Pantry and Troy Food Pantry.

For more information on the United Way campaign, call 752-7266. Donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 7217, Kalispell MT 59904.