United Fund vice president Dwight Mikel said Wednesday the organization is an estimated $23,000 short of its $115,000 goal, one month past the Oct. 31 fundraising deadline.

“We’re still struggling,” he said. “We really need everybody, when they begin to think of the joy of Christmas, we hope they will consider giving a donation to us.”

Mikel said United Fund “really needs some local support at the time of giving and thanksgiving.”

“People have been really generous,” he said. “I know it’s a tough time, but it’s a tough time for our friends who really need it most, and that’s who United Fund helps.”

The local organization helps area agencies provide valuable community services.

Mikel said the contributions from United Fund are plugged into the agencies’ budgets. “A lot of agencies started their fiscal year in October,” he said. “They took their new allocation and plugged it into their budget. If we don’t collect that money, we’re going to have to cut back.”

This year’s drive is raising money for 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; Youth Sports Recreation Boards; SAFE of Covington County; Andalusia Community Christmas; Andalusia, Opp and Florala public libraries; Opportunity House; Crossover Ministries; Governor’s Committee on Employment of Persons with Disabilities; Sav-A-Life; and the Opp Benevolence Fund.

Contributions can be mailed to Covington County United Fund, P.O. Box 1791, Andalusia, AL 36420.