The United Way of Prince Edward County is well on it’s way to obtaining its $50,000 goal.

The group, which set its goal in August, has already placed a star on its board for earning 33 percent of the $50,000, thanks to fundraising efforts. United Way President Rucker Snead said it had earned $16,700 as of last week and since then $1,000-2,000 more has come in.

“Our big fundraiser each year is our letter campaign and those letters literally should be hitting the boxes this week,” Snead said.

He said he hopes to see more donations come in as letters are received and expects to then see another flood of donations at the end of November. A series of smaller fundraising events have taken place this fall, several of which have taken place at Centra Southside Community Hospital.

The next fundraising function will take place Friday at 11 a.m. in the hospital parking lot where visitors can purchase Brunswick Stew to support United Way’s partner-organizations. Stew will be sold for $8 a quart or $5 for a bowl with crackers or bread. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the United Way. Pre-orders can be made by calling (434) 315-2445.

“Here at Centra Southside Community Hospital, we have a huge United Way campaign,” Kerry Davis Mossler, marketing director at Centra and a United Way board member, said.

Mossler said employees can have donations taken out through payroll deductions or participate in other donation opportunities, such as silent auctions or tailgate parties with corn hole games.

Following the hospital’s kickoff in October, there have been several events sponsored by Centra including a wine tasting fundraiser at the Virginia Tasting Cellar and a bake sale in the hospital lobby. The bake sale brought in more than $1,000 for United Way.

“Centra’s been a great community partner,” Snead said.

Though there are no major plans for fundraising through the holidays, Snead said the organization is looking forward to meeting with its 19 community partners at the start of the new year.

“I’d love to be able to raise close to $30,000 and be able to give that to our partners in January,” he said.

The organization supports nonprofits and groups which give back to the local community, including the Boy and Girl scouts, Meals on Wheels, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, FACES, Virginia Legal Aid Society, Madeline’s House and Heartland Horse Heroes.

Whatever money is raised after January will be divided and shared with the groups during a second meeting in June.

Hampden-Sydney College students have held a number of fundraisers, Snead said, and hope to raise $10,000 this year.

Though Centra is the largest community donor, employees at Walmart, Lowes and UPS participate because of national United Way campaigns working with major companies. Belk also usually donates, Snead said.

“One of the things many people don’t understand with nonprofit and donations, our fixed costs remain pretty close year to year,” he said.

He said the more they raise, the larger percentage of the donations they are able to give away.

“The need is definitely there,” Snead said, adding he hopes to see another star added to the United Way donation board in coming weeks.