For the first time in nearly two decades, the United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County met their annual fundraising goal for two years in a row.

On Thursday, UWECC Community Impact Coordinator Crystal Carter announced the agency had reached their campaign goal of $125,000.

“I don’t have the final total yet, but we did meet our goal,” Carter said. “We met goal with a little bit to spare and we still have some campaigns to come in.”

For several years the local United Way agency struggled to meet their annual fundraising target. Last year, the agency hit the mark for the first time in several years.

“This is the first time this millennium that we’ve met the goal for two years in a row,” Carter said. “This is only the third time since 1999 that the agency met the goal.”

The campaign kicked off in September 2017 and came to a close on Jan. 31, 2018. The theme for this year’s campaign was “Give me $5,” which focused on the concept that if everyone gives a little it will add up to a lot.

As the campaign progresses, Carter was worried about meeting the goal of $125,000.

Many of the individual contributions were down as were some of the workplace and corporate campaigns, she said. But, there were some campaigns that actually increased this year.

“It’s phenomenal that we managed to meet goal,” Carter said.

Some of the local businesses that helped contribute to the success of the campaign this year were Carter County Bank, Sycamore Shoals Hospital, and Citizens Bank.

All of the money raised by the local United Way campaign stays here in the community to support agencies that provide services for local residents.

Carter is hoping to expand some of the ways United Way serves the community using some of the surplus funds raised this year as well as money from a reserve budget the agency had last year.

“We’re going to expand the community garden,” Carter said. “We are also starting a small lending library and a food pantry.”

Carter is also working on partnerships to help bring needed services to the residents of the South Hills community where the United Way office is located.

During the month of February, Carter said, the Elizabethton/Carter County Public Library will be offering computer classes at the United Way office. If the classes prove to be popular, Carter said they are hoping to provide them again in the future.

For more information on the United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County visit them online at www.uwayecc.org, follow their Facebook page, or call the office at 423-543-6975.