FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – U of A's United Way campaign is entering its second full week with donations accepted through payroll deductions, recurring gifts or one-time credit card gifts.

The campaign launched on Oct. 1 with the theme "Now More Than Ever" and a goal of raising $100,000 to help area children and families in need.

All donations to the U of A's United Way campaign go to the United Way of Northwest Arkansas, and 98 percent of that money goes directly to local programs, including children's centers, women's shelters, youth organizations, school districts, teen centers and more.

Payroll deductions begin in January 2021. Faculty and staff may donate to a specific agency through the United Way of NWA. Any donation of $100 or more to a 501(c)(3) organization, as defined by the IRS, and serving Northwest Arkansas, will be passed on directly to that organization.

Donation cards are distributed to campus staff who do not have regular access to the internet and should be returned to a campus coordinator.

Deans Margaret Sova McCabe of the School of Law and Deacue Fields of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences are co-leads for this year's campus campaign.

Arkansas residents can call 211 to get information about health and human service agency assistance. By dialing 211, referred, and sometimes connected, those in need of assistance can be referred, and sometimes connected, to appropriate agencies and community organizations.

"Last year Northwest Arkansas' 211 line had 3,346 contacts," McCabe said. "As of this year, mid-year, statewide, 211 has had more than 11,000 contacts. We're up about 71 percent, which speaks to the current needs of our friends and neighbors."

As of Friday, the campaign had already raised more than $17,000. Go here to track progress, make a gift, find a list of campus coordinators and more.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 3 percent of colleges and universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.