By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – United Way of McLean County is focusing more on public safety this year through its annual fund drive.

One of two focus areas the agency has named this year is community strengthening. Community Impact Manager Michael Donnelly said that goes beyond food and shelter.

“We felt like we wanted people to not only be safe in their homes but (also) being safe in their community,” Donnelly said.

The other focus area is health care, Donnelly said, with a greater emphasis on oral health.

“We recognize there are a lot of unmet oral health issues that we are having in our community so we wanted dot make sure we wrote that language into the process,” Donnelly said.

Donnelly added the more this year’s campaign can raise, the more funding these agencies can get.

“Naturally, with any kind of funding source,  you have limited dollars and so you have to try to make the best decisions you can with limited dollars,” Donnelly said.

Fourteen programs received funding during the last cycle. United Way is seeking an eight-percent increase in donations this year to $4.6 million.

The deadline for agencies seeking funding to submit a letter of intent in October 2. Forms can be found under the community strengthening page at www.uwaymcorg.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].