The United Way of Greater McHenry County’s annual fundraising campaign is ongoing. To date, it’s lagging behind where it was last year, and last year’s campaign fell short of its goal. From the beginning of the campaign in September through late last week, the United Way has raised slightly more than $120,000, or about 7.5 percent of its goal of $1.6 million.

Money raised this year goes to pay for human services programing across the county next year. Because of the state’s financial problems, these social service agencies need every dollar that local residents can afford to contribute.

Family Services and Community Mental Health Center in McHenry closed its doors earlier this year because of severe financial problems. It provided vital mental health counseling and other programming to local residents in need. Other agencies have stepped up to fill the void left by Family Services’ collapse, but because the state has cut its funding to human services and is behind on paying its bills by several months for work already completed, most are struggling.