Jessica Klinkenberg
Northern News Services
Wednesday, January 31, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - It's been five years since the United Way came to Yellowknife and since then they've managed to raise $450,000.

The organization held a meeting last Saturday to find out how groups and individuals in Yellowknife feel the United Way was doing, and to plan for the upcoming years as well.

"We wanted to see if we were meeting their needs," said Amy Lea, president of the United Way of Yellowknife.

She said one of the main interests of the people at the meeting was learning more about what the United Way does in Yellowknife.

Lea said that's one of the challenges the United Way faces.

"People think 'Why would I want a second party to take my money and donate it when I can do it myself'," she explained.

She said sometimes organizations are overwhelmed with donations from multiple sources and it takes a while for the money to reach them. As well, there can be a backlog in paperwork if people make donations to separate charities, whereas donating with the United Way makes for less paperwork, Lea said.

Lea and Arla Gustafson, vice-president of the United Way of Canada's Prairie and NWT Region, said the United Way offers a payroll deduction donation option.

"It's relatively painless," Lea said.

"If they work in an organization that has payroll deductions they can approach someone in (Human Resources) and ask to have it implemented," Lea said.

Gustafson said that because people are stretched thin these days with work and other responsibilities, payroll deductions are helpful.