Dwight Mikel, Covington County United Fund board vice president, said Friday the organization is only $9,000 short of its $115,000 goal for 2010.

“Although fundraising efforts officially ended Oct. 31, we’re still waiting on some corporate contacts to report in,” Mikel said. “Each have historically contributed and are still in the process of finalizing their figures, but I think with those contributions it will be enough to get us over the top.”

Mikel said he hopes to “be able to pull the plug prior to Thanksgiving” on the fundraising effort.

“We’re all excited to have gotten collections in such a timely matter,” he said. “These groups really depend on the funding from the Covington County United Fund to help them provide services throughout the county. And thanks to the generous donations of the people here, they can continue to provide those services.”

At the end of October, Mikel reported the drive was at 53 percent of its goal of $115,000, and volunteers made a push for donations.

“Anyone can ride by the Andalusia Chamber of Commerce and take a look at our thermometer outside,” he said. “It shows just how much the people of this county have given.”

Monies collected through our local United Fund drive help agencies such as the Covington County chapter of the American Red Cross; Impact of Covington County; Boy Scouts; Andalusia Ministerial Association; Girl Scouts; Covington County Adult Training Center; Covington County 4-H Clubs; Opp Meals on Wheels; Andalusia Youth Sports; Covington County Recreation Board; Opp Youth Sports; SAFE of Covington County; Muscular Dystrophy Association; Andalusia Community Christmas; Andalusia, Florala and Opp libraries; Florala EMS; Opportunity House; Crossover Ministries; Governors Committee on Employment of Persons with Disabilities; Sav-A-Life Pregnancy Center and the Opp Benevolence Fund.

United Fund encourages residents to contribute the equivalent of one hour’s compensation per month, and there is still time left for those individuals wishing to contribute.

Contributions can be mailed to CCUF, P.O. Box 1791, Andalusia, AL, 36421.