VALLEY — Representatives of the ten local organizations that receive funding from the Valley United Fund met Friday afternoon to help kick off this year’s campaign. This is the 40th year for the Valley United Fund, and this year’s theme is “United We Thrive.”

“We have an ambitious goal this year,” said Adrian Carpenter, president of this year’s drive. “This year’s goal is $100,000. Whatever we raise will stay in the local area and will benefit ten service organizations that provide much needed services for the Valley and Chambers County.”

Contributions to the United Fund, said Carpenter, help make our community a better place to live. Valley United Fund has very low overhead, meaning up to 99.5 percent of the money that’s donated will go directly to worthy causes such as the Boys & Girls Club of West Georgia and Chambers County, the Bread Basket Club, the Christian Service Center, the Circle of Care Center for Families, the Domestic Violence Intervention Center, the East Alabama Mental Health Center, the Interfaith Food Closet, Sav-a-Life, the Tri County Children’s Advocacy Center and/or Valley Haven School.

“When pondering the needs of our community,I am encouraged to know that the Valley United Fund is helping so many people,” said Carpenter. “I believe in the power of the Valley United Fund to support our community. We are excited to say that we have set our fundraising goal for this year, and I know that we are going to make it. We will need everyone’s help to do it. As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, we are all reminded of how important it is to be thankful for what we have and to give back to others. Contributing to the Valley United Fund is a great way to do that.”

The Valley United Fund serves as a clearing house of sorts, with donations being distributed to ten member agencies. “The programs that are funded help our whole community and provide much-needed services to our local citizens,” Carpenter added.

Volunteers will be contacting local citizens in the coming days. Donations can be made through the mail by sending a check to Valley United Fund, P.O. Box 205, West Point, GA 31833 on online at ValleyUnitedFund.com.

For more information, you may visit the website or contact board members Adrian Carpenter at (706) 590-0408, Bill Martin at (706) 518-0688, Tony Edmondson at (334) 642-2591 or Jim Duttera at (706) 773-6861.