With two weeks to go, the Sarnia-Lambton United Way campaign is at 66 per cent.
Executive Director Dave Brown said $1.25 million of the $1.9 million goal has been raised.
"We did make some good headway last week, we had Imperial announce their corporate donation, the Suncor Energy Foundation announced their corporate (donation) and we're still expecting a few more large employee campaigns to wrap up this week or early next," said Brown.
He said Cabot Canada also submitted its employee campaign, while NOVA Chemicals, ARLANXEO and a few other industrial campaigns are wrapping up.
Brown admitted it's going to be a "real stretch" to meet the fundraising goal and cuts may be needed.
"We knew it was going to be very difficult way back in June, but when you look at the number of new donors we have, and the number of donors who have increased their donation, I think we've actually done quite well so far."
Brown said United Way funding to 18 local agencies, providing 36 community programs and services, is guaranteed into early next year.
"We did, in June, guarantee the agencies funding until the end of this year and then in November, because the campaign was progressing reasonably well, we were able to guarantee the agencies funding until March 31."
Brown confirms there won't be "across the board cuts" if the needs target is not met.
"Typically in a shortfall year, we take a look to see which agencies are most in need of funding and make decisions based on that."
He said they received Emergency Community Support Funding from the federal government in the spring and early fall to help community agencies who met certain criteria.
"They had to be COVID-related and their programs also had to be focused to vulnerable populations, such as seniors, First Nations and women," Brown said.
