More than 200 people could receive counseling sessions.

More than 1,000 nights of shelter could be provided to homeless individuals or those who are being physically abused, sexually molested or neglected.

More than 100 families could receive emergency assistance.

More than 44,000 meals could be provided.

That’s just a few of the ways the United Way of West Central Mississippi could impact the community through the money donated to this year’s fundraising campaign, according United Way executive director Michele Connelly.

“We are marketing more toward the impact your dollar makes in the community not necessarily the dollar amount itself,” said Kami May, the organization’s director of marketing and community relations. “I’ve heard (Connelly) speak many a time that it doesn’t matter how much you give—it could be a dollar, it could be $2, it could be $200,000—but it’s about what the money does for the community and the purpose it serves.”

This year, amidst changes to how the United Way of West Central Mississippi will be receiving funds, the organization’s campaign cabinet set a fundraising goal of $950,000 Wednesday for this year’s fundraising campaign, down from last year’s $1.2 million.

But though the goal may seem lower than in previous years, Connelly explained recent changes to how much money is distributed through the United Way led to a seemingly decreased goal.

“United Way of West Central Mississippi really wants to set a realistic goal reflecting the actual impact in our service area, which includes Warren, Yazoo, Claiborne, Sharkey, Issaquena and a small portion of Madison Parish. This year’s United Way goal actually reflects the changes taking place with our local CFC, or combined federal campaign,” she said.

In the past couple of years, changes to how the CFC, a separate charity fundraising campaign for local federal agencies that the United Way assisted in an administrative role by distributing funds on its behalf, began allowing federal employees to donate money to non-profits outside of national agencies (which kept some of the money local) or local non-profit agencies, Connelly said.

“Therefore in 2017, all CFC or federal money will no longer be going through our particular office unless the federal employees (specifically choose) United Way of West Central Mississippi as their agency of choice to make their donation to. In preparation for these changes the 2016 campaign cabinet and board of directors want our goal to reflect the actual impact to our service area,” she said.

Last year the United Way raised $858,981 with an additional $259,544 coming from the CFC, but the distribution changes meant that not all of that money was necessarily staying in the United Way’s service area, Connelly explained.

“You want to give to where your heart tells you to give, but for us, (this change) means (the money) was not staying local, so us saying that the money was staying local began to not be as realistic as it had been in the past because they can send it (outside of our service area),” Connelly said.

This new campaign goal reflects the amount of money that is given directly to the United Way of West Central Mississippi, she added.

“(We) know for certain that 99.9 percent of this goal will absolutely remain in our service area,” she said. “Our agencies definitely use the money effectively and efficiently to allow us to live united.

“We are challenging ourselves to push further and to expand upon our campaign goal, and there is so much potential in our community for that. We feel very confident it is a realistic goal. We definitely want to remind the community that anyone can give at any level to make a difference. $2.25 can provide a home-bound senior meals for a whole week, so if you think you’re money is not making a difference at whatever level your able to give, then you’re very very wrong.”

The campaign’s shift to focusing on community impact means the United Way’s donation thermometer will not be making an appearance this year.

“We want people knowing that they’ve reached the goal of providing shelter for X number of children or they’ve reached the goal of providing X amount of meals to the elderly,” Connelly said. “It takes a little more effort on (May’s) part because it’s easier to just say, ‘Look at the thermometer.’

“We’re really wanting to be data driven and showing people what their money is doing in the community.”

May pointed to the impact calculator available on the non-profit’s website, unitedwayvicksburg.org, which provides examples of what a donation could do in the community, as an example of this shift.

The campaign will officially begin with the True Color Run Sept. 17, but the campaign already has $9,000 in previous donations, Connelly said, noting the major push for donations is in September and October with fundraising winding down at the end of each year.

“This is going to be great. I’m just really excited (about) the goals set and talking about the financial part even though it’s not our overall goal, we know the financial part leads to the impact in our community,” Jennifer Grey, this year’s campaign chair, said.

If interested in contributing to the United Way of West Central Mississippi’s 2016 campaign, call 601-636-1733.