SYRACUSE -- The United Way of Central New York is making a last minute – and what it calls a “close the gap” – appeal, because the charity’s annual campaign has fallen a million dollars short.

Representatives of the 39 agencies that are funded by the United Way dollars were at an announcement held this morning in Syracuse. They say a cutback this big would mean shutting down some important community programs.

“The is not just the United Way, but it’s the cumulative effect of funding losses across the city, the county, the state - and the United Way is really a staple for us in terms of being able to address the needs of folks in the community. So you take a funding cut in one area it’s difficult, but when you’re confronted with multiple cuts it does create a real challenge and some desperation,” says Mike Malara of Catholic Charities in Onondaga County.

Sharon Jack-Williams, who heads up the Dunbar Association, says the budget cuts would mean reductions in services.  "It's a scary word," she says.  Her agency, like many, has already cut after last year's United Way  cutbacks, and her programs already have waiting lists.  She says with more cuts, the services, like food pantries, services to the elderly, and after school care for children, will go away.

The problem, says United Way executive director Frank Lazarski, is almost a perfect storm:  at the same time record numbers of people need help, because of the economy,  companies cannot donate or match employee donations because of their economic stress, and personal donations are down, as well.  Lazarski says that because of the shortfall, this  last ditch campaign will try to get the money this month, otherwise they'll have to make cuts to funding, to go into effect this summer.

Among the executive directors at today's announcement, there was also talk that all the money going out of the community, to Haiti relief, is also impacting local efforts---ironically, it was staged at the Huntington Family Center in a classroom, where 'help for Haiti was obviously a theme--lots of children's pictures, and a jar collecting change for the effort, in full view.

If you would like to help the local United Way fund area programs with donations or volunteering, or by staging a special event (like an office fundraiser), you  can click on the United Way website or give them a call at 428-2211.