Yellowknife (Oct 10/03) - United Way starts its second annual campaign in Yellowknife Oct. 15, and this year's president Bob Haywood expects to top the 2002 total by more than $10,000.

Roslyn Smith, past president, said volunteer campaigners raised $63,589 last year.

"Until we can raise a significant amount of money, paying somebody is unrealistic," she said.

Smith said last year they did not set a target amount since it was the first year, and instead referred to the campaign as the "friend-raising campaign," rather than fundraising.

"We exceeded any of our wildest expectations," she said.

Bob Haywood, new president, said the 2003 goal of $75,000 is attainable because the board is organized and ready.

"We thought we should try to do even better this year," said Haywood.

Of the $30,000 given back to the community last year, $10,000 went to the NWT Literacy Council, $8,000 to Big Buddies of Yellowknife, and $12,000 was shared between the Salvation Army and the Yellowknife Food Bank.

Maj. Al Hoeft, executive director at the Salvation Army, said the money financed a country food program that distributes wild game meat to families in need and elders in the community.

"We needed a large freezer unit for the food," said Hoeft, adding it will take most of the funding they received. He said that although they haven't applied for further funding from the United Way, last year's donation was helpful in more ways than one.

David Ritchie, volunteer at the Yellowknife Food Bank agreed, and said of the $12,000 received by the two organizations, $7,000 was donated to the food bank, which was put towards a small freezer unit, education materials handed out with groceries, renovations and improvements.

The 2003 campaign starts with a pancake breakfast on Oct. 15 at the fire hall. Haywood said they will be contacting all employees and will also be sending information out to all households in Yellowknife about how and why to make donations.

The United Way has been in Canada since 1917. Yellowknife is the 125th member of the United Way of Canada.