Throughout the area, volunteers are rolling up their sleeves and going to work to raise much needed funds for a variety of worthy causes in their communities.

They do it because they know the dollars raised make a difference in thousands of people’s everyday lives.

Imagine the region without Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, Red Cross and more. It would be a much different place and not one that most would like nor one that serves its communities very well.

United Way efforts in Sylacauga, Pell City and Talladega have set their goals and are working feverishly to meet them. And rightly so. The fruits of their labor enhance the quality of life found in their communities.

With the economic downturn, it is easy to pull back and not give as easily as in years past. But never before has it been more vital to make the extra effort to donate to United Way and support these agencies.

Giving may be harder this year, but the causes are certainly worth the effort.