Less to give?

The holiday season is a time for giving, and many of the community's service and charity organizations are very active this time of year, but economic uncertainty is likely to take its toll on spending, and some local groups are wondering if that will also translate to fewer donations.

Organizations like the Salvation Army and the Cayuga County Community Action Agency are heavily dependent on personal donations to provide services. As times tighten, wallets often follow, which could leave these groups with lower resources when there is more demand for their services.

One of the largest local organizations is the United Way of Cayuga County, which is in the midst of its annual fundraising campaign. According to the United Way Web site, the organization is about half way toward reaching its $1.38 million goal for 2008.