Job losses in county hit United Way staff

The shutdown of General Motors Powertrain and layoffs at Alcoa in Massena have diminished donations to the United Way of Northern New York, which already has had an impact on the agency itself and could affect the organizations it funds.

"Alcoa and GM have been the bread and butter of the United Way in St. Lawrence County. The union employees have just been stellar in their support," said Cynthia F. Wells, United Way St. Lawrence County associate. "Now, a lot of those employees are going to be the recipients of services offered by United Way agencies. We've seen major increases in people who are fiscally responsible needing help."

Alcoa laid off 113 workers when it idled its Massena East smelter. The GM plant's closure put more than 500 people out of work.

Ms. Wells is also a casualty.

She went from full-time to half-time at the beginning of the year and will lose her job as of Friday.

"This was an internal reorganization," said Jayn M. Graves, the United Way's chief professional officer. "There also won't be any staff raises."

Miss Graves and Tobi R. Darrah, campaign director for Jefferson and Lewis counties, will both represent the agency in St. Lawrence County after Ms. Wells's departure.

As part of the reorganization, the United Way board and volunteers will review agencies that are funded throughout the coverage area.

"I think we need to take a different look at St. Lawrence County," Miss Graves said. "You look at the unemployment or underemployment rate. You look at the issues surrounding long-term poverty. I just get the feeling public sector funding is not going to be there."

The United Way announced last year that it was "make-it-or-break-it time" after the 2007 campaign received $129,695 from St. Lawrence County, compared with $850,026 for Jefferson County and $71,938 for Lewis County, which is the smallest of the three counties.

St. Lawrence routinely raised between $260,000 and $290,000 for years, but donations declined as workers lost jobs.

"The campaign has been going in the wrong direction," Miss Graves said. "The need in St. Lawrence County is so great."

Ms. Wells said she started several new campaigns in the county, but uncertainty over the economy has taken a bite out of the money people have for charitable donations.

"My concern now is there's no representative in St. Lawrence County," Ms. Wells said.