If the Rotary Club of Tarboro members haven't heard about United Way before, they have now after an A-Z presentation on the organization at their meeting on Thursday.

United Way’s Community Development Manager Shannon Barker informed the Rotarians about the purpose and goals of United Way and encouraged them to get involved.

Although the campaign is underway Barker made a pitch to the Rotary Club in hopes that they would donate or start their own campaign.

The campaign kick-off was on Sept. 12 at Edgecombe Community College and they are looking to raise $135,000 by the wrap-up on Dec. 3 at the Blount-Bridgers House.

Barker told them that United Way works to build a strong community by providing assistance to agencies with those same goals.

"How we do that is through our United Way fundraising," Barker said.

The money that will be raised will go towards 16 non-profit organizations:

American Red Cross, Association for Learning Disabled and Handicapped, Boys Scouts, Christian Fellowship Homes, Dunbar Community Development Club, Edgecombe County Senior Citizens Group Two, Girl Scouts, Hospice of Edgecombe County, Meals on Wheels, Princeville Senior Citizens, Salvation Army, Tarboro Community Outreach, Walston's Adult Nurturing Center, Harrison Family YMCA, Tri-County Industries Adult Development Activities and VOICE.

"There are a variety of organizations that we do fund that goes from seniors to children," Barker said.

Barker emphasized that the United Way is run by the people, for the people through the help of people like them.

United Way consist of employee campaign coordinators, campaign cabinet and other volunteers.

Some of the volunteers work with the allocation process to ensure that the money goes to places that are going to be beneficial to the community.

"Our community volunteers make a decision on where that money goes," Barker said.

They make those decisions through training they receive to review applications and tour the facilities.

United Way in Nash and Edgecombe Counties recently joined forces to form the United Way Tar River Region.