There's no shortage of ways to help the United Way of Carbon County. You can host an event, serve on a committee, seek support from businesses in your community, take photos for the organization's website, make a dessert, network with supporting agencies or donate food and raffle items, just to name a few.

All those ways of giving were represented Thursday night, when the United Way of Carbon County held its Fall Gathering, hosted by the Villas Crossing Golf Course, Tamaqua. The Carbon County group aids 19 local non-profit organizations, and nine of those (Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Arc, Family Promise, Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries, Meals on Wheels, CTC Manufacturing, Girl Scouts, PathStone and Blocks From Down Under) set up informational booths at the event. In addition, members and businesses donated appetizers and desserts, spread out on a groaning table in the Villas Crossing dining room."We always have a need for more support from our communities," said United Way board president Dr. Lisa Bleicher. "Currently we have a need for volunteers to serve on our committees - just contact us and we'll find a niche for you."Vice president Donna Lennon agreed."You can go to events and help set up, go out into the community and talk to businesses, do a presentation for a group, or pick up donated items," Lennon said. "We always have a need for volunteer help."Board Member George Miller, Villas Crossing general manager, said that Villas Crossing is making the United Way of Carbon County its feature charity for 2013. The Villas will host a golf league from May through Labor Day, and is seeking 12 five-person teams to play on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with six teams playing each night."Each team will be sponsored by a business or individual, and the United Way will get a donation from each player," Miller explained. "Once a month we'll have a tournament, and also a year-end tournament.""I hope we can raise a five-figure sum for the United Way of Carbon County," he added. "This is a great group of people and they work hard to serve our communities."The United Way of Carbon County aims to raise $65,000 in its current campaign, launched in September 2012, to benefit 19 nonprofit organizations. About 90 percent of the funds the United Way raises go directly to the organizations.To volunteer, or donate, contact the United Way of Carbon County:

www.unitedwayofcarboncounty.org,

unitedwayofcarboncounty@yahoo.com, 888-533-3904, PO Box 545, Lehighton PA 18235. Board members, in addition to Bleicher, Lennon and Miller are treasurer Christine Liebold, secretary Loretta McLaughlin, Melissa Binder, Cindy Gasper, Lorraine Paules and Sara Withers.