If I know anything about Vicksburg, it’s that we love a challenge.

Put an obstacle in front of us, and the good, positive, optimistic, hard-working people of this community will find a way to conquer it.

This community’s history is filled with many examples of that grit and determination.

The United Way of West Central Mississippi needs our help.

On Thursday, Jan. 10, our United Way hit its final 50 days of its annual campaign. In five weeks, we need to help our United Way generate $50,000.

Lynn Foley, this year’s campaign chairperson, said, “We are not quite where we need to be yet, but the good news is that we have not hit the deadline yet.”

Most of us are fortunate and grateful for all we’ve earned and been provided. At the same time, we know it takes very little to turn our world upside down.

The 19 partner agencies served by the United Way of West Central Mississippi are those we count on to help in our time of need, and those agencies depend on funds from the United Way to provide vital services for our community.

From The Salvation Army to Haven House Family Shelter to Grace Christian Counseling Center and the YMCA, as well as other agencies that serve the elderly, disabled and children in need, the dollars we give each year to the United Way helps those partners continue do their good work here.

Our community is a better place because of the services of United Way partner agencies, like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, Mountain of Faith Ministries, Good Shepherd Community Center and Warren-Yazoo Behavioral Health. When we give to the United Way, we can rest assured our charitable dollars are being put to good use right here in our community. Our local United Way board, made up of our friends and neighbors, are who determine how United Way funds are spent.

My friend and former boss, Tim Reeves, former president and publisher of The Vicksburg Post who decided to strike out on his and now operates Reeves Editorial Design, is chairman of the United Way board. Tim is a big-hearted man who passionately loves Vicksburg. I can’t think of anyone better to help guide that agency and make good decisions about how to best put its resources to work. We can absolutely count on his stewardship.

Let’s determine now to help United Way reach its fund drive goal. If you missed your opportunity to give at your workplace, as someone in your human resources department how you can have funds deducted straight from your pay to benefit United Way.

You can go to UnitedWayVicksburg.org and click on the donate button and easily make an online donations.

Or, urge your church group or civic organization to plan a fundraiser within the next five weeks to benefit the United Way of West Central Mississippi.

United Way needs our help. Let’s take this challenge and help it meet its goal.

Jan Griffey is general manager of The Vicksburg Post. You may reach her at jan.griffey@vicksburgpost.com.