By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN

dobrien@dailynews.net

A little bit from a lot of people can go a long way.

The United Way of Ellis County is hoping for a little from a lot during the final few weeks of its annual fundraising campaign.

Board members and United Way Director Sue Rouse were busy around town Wednesday updating the large thermometers tracking the progress of this year's fundraiser.

The progress charts, which are changed at 10-percent increments, went up to 60 percent, but the campaign actually now is at $283,738.31, or 61 percent of the goal of $467,000.

The campaign committee, Rouse said, likes to complete most of its collections by the end of November before the Christmas holidays.

"We don't close the campaign until Dec. 31, but we like to get it wrapped up by Nov. 30," Rouse said. "It's a little harder to make that commitment at Christmas time."

Rouse has been involved with 15 fundraising campaigns in Ellis County, and only twice during that time did it not meet its goal.

The last time it fell short was 2001, the year of the terrorist attacks.

Rouse said it's hard to gauge whether or not 2009 will mark the eighth consecutive year the goal is met, noting large contributions come in at such a variety of times.

"Companies run their campaigns where it's the best time for their particular company, so we just don't know," she said.

Rouse added that "companies have been very creative to encourage people to give to United Way," she said, mentioning pancake feeds, competitions among employees and "dine-out Wednesdays" as just a few of the many promotions throughout the county since the campaign kicked off in August.

Several companies also do payroll deductions. Others have "jeans days."

Many companies have more than one promotion.

"Some people won't do payroll deductions, but they could like special promotions," Rouse said. "There are so many different ways to give."

"It makes it fun," she added. "It creates some energy."

Upcoming promotions geared toward raising funds for United Way are taking place at Hays Chevrolet and The Mall.

For every vehicle sold by Hays Chevrolet through the month of November, a percentage will be donated to the United Way.

Shoppers at mall stores can turn in their receipts from purchases Nov. 21 and 22 to The Mall office, and a portion of those totals will be donated by The Mall to the United Way.

"That's a new one (by The Mall)," Rouse said. "That will be interesting to see how that goes."

The United Way serves programs from 14 different agencies in the county.

The progress thermometers had read 50 percent for about three weeks prior to Wednesday, and Rouse anxiously was awaiting the chance to record the next 10 percent.

"Forty-six thousand, seven-hundred dollars, or 10 percent, is a lot of little gifts to add up," Rouse said. "But they do add up."

Regardless of the outcome of this year's campaign, Rouse said, "for the state of the economy, we've been very pleased."

"It's a very generous community," Rouse said

"People who are still employed or have resources are willing to give."

"Ellis County is a great place to live," she added, "because people care about you."