Organizers for the Copper Country United Way say their campaign is off to a decent start…but it still has raised eight percent less than last year.

The goal of the campaign is to raise $145,000 to meet human service needs in the Keweenaw but just over $20,000 had been raised by Friday of last week.

CCUW Interim President Grace Tousignant says the need is great in the community with today’s economic conditions and urges people to step up and pitch in.

Tousignant noted that the best way to give is through payroll deduction at work and urged local employers to offer United Way payroll deductions to their workers.

The United Way helps to improve the quality of life for 30-thousand individuals through agencies such as Dial Help and other community services.