General Motors, typically one of the larger United Way contributors in the region, is still conducting its employee campaign.

“We have 20 to 30 companies still out there with campaigns ranging from $5,000 to $60,000 or more,” said Doug Eberhart, executive director of United Way of Southern Kentucky.

Eberhart said when GM wraps up its campaign it could be a bellwether for those other campaigns still out there.

“Being in the auto industry and the current problems there, GM’s campaign is going to be one of the telltale signs,” he said. “But GM and the rest of the auto industry here have always been strong.”

Still, Eberhart anticipates that United Way won’t be raising as much as it did last year. So far the campaign has received about $1.29 million. Last year’s campaign, which wrapped up in late November, raised $1.95 million. Eberhart said this campaign could go into January.

Why the slowdown in completing campaigns?

“A lot of it is just the unrest that people have with the economy right now and with the way things are going,” Eberhart said.

Still, there have been some successes with companies, including J.M. Smuckers in Scottsville, Logan Aluminum in Logan County, Hills Pet Foods and Country Oven Bakery with increases in their campaigns.

“We’ve seen extremes - some campaigns have dropped considerably and others have increased,” Eberhart said.

Eberhart said his office staff is ready to help any company complete a campaign or provide help to companies that may have never operated a campaign before and may want to.

Individuals also have opportunities to help out.

United Way can accept cash or gifts of land, stock or automatic bank transfers.

“We can talk to individuals or companies about the widespread impact that United Way funding has in the community,” he said.

United Way helps fund organizations that focus primarily on poverty, literacy, youth development, senior services and other social services.

The Salvation Army is one of the organizations that benefits from United Way funding, but also has its own fundraising to help provide services to the homeless and needy families in the area.

Collections in The Salvation Army kettle began on weekends Nov. 8.

“We have just had three days of collections and the bank hasn’t gotten back to us with the totals, but it looked about like what it was last year,” said Maj. Roy Hicks of The Salvation Army.

Hicks said they are collecting at only six of the 20 stores that they will eventually be.

“We will be in full swing the day after Thanksgiving,” he said.

Kettle locations will include all Kroger stores, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Macy’s and other mall locations, Hobby Lobby, Big Lots and Sam’s Club.

Funds collected help purchase gifts and Christmas baskets for less fortunate families in the area who have signed up for help.

The Salvation Army also has Angel Trees at Bandy Bedding, Saturn of Bowling Green, and at 10 a.m. Friday will kick off its Angel Tree campaign at the Greenwood Mall, according to Kathy Walker, bookkeeper for the organization.

Walker said so far she has the names of 1,100 people who will go on the trees, but she is still adding names.

“The child’s shirt, pants and shoe size will be on there, along with a wish list,” she said. “We ask that a sponsor be able to buy at least two things on the list. But how much more they do is up to them.”

Walker said getting an angel is a perfect opportunity for co-workers or churches to go together to purchase gifts.

“We even have family members who instead of exchanging gifts will go together and contribute funds and get an angel,” Walker said.

Holy Spirit Catholic Church, First Baptist Church, Broadway United Methodist Church, Hillvue Heights Church, Living Hope Baptist Church and St. Joseph Catholic Church also will have Angel Trees. Other churches that want to have angel trees through The Salvation Army may contact Walker at 843-3485.