The United Way slightly surpassed its $1.4 million fundraising goal for 2023.

Officials in Sarnia-Lambton announced Thursday $1.42 million – about 101.4 per cent of the announced goal of $1.4 million had been received. Vicky Ducharme, the campaign chair, said a number of end of the year donations – including two anonymous donations – helped the organization reach its goal.

Ducharme said throughout the campaign that although the goal is set at $1.4M, the actual needs in our community are closer to $1.6M.

Like others in North America, with the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton has missed its fundraising goals leading up to and during the pandemic including in 2022 when the goal was about $1.6 million.

Eighteen agencies are funded by the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton, which provides 30 local programs and services.

Funding is used for three areas, the largest being poverty-related and homeless services, youth programming and seniors programming and mental health.

The 2023 fundraising campaign will officially end December 31, 2023.