As they waved and smiled to automobiles going through the intersection of Bridge Avenue and Marshall Street, volunteers with the Freeborn County United Way on Friday collected more than $3,600 during what was the annual Keep the Fires Burning event.

The money raised from the event, which was scheduled to go from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., will go toward this year’s Live United Campaign goal.

The symbolism behind the event was that as more money was donated toward the organization’s 2009 goal of $645,000, more wood would be placed onto the fire.

“The event is so much fun,” said United Way Director Ann Austin. “We get to catch up with people we haven’t seen for a while.”

People passing by gave coins, $1 bills and even some $20 bills.

United Way Director Ann Austin said by 9:30 a.m., volunteers had collected $1,600. One woman had written out a $1,000 check. The goal was to raise about $5,000, Austin said.

Weather was also much more favorable than in previous years, when wind-chill pushed temperatures below zero. Heavy rains from Thursday had also tapered, but it still rained off and on.

Austin said the organization’s leaders considered postponing the event after the weather on Thursday, but decided to continue as planned because of all the pre-publicity for it.

She said she was glad they did, and she was pleased with how things were going.

She noted she was particularly touched by one St. Theodore Catholic School student who dropped some change in the bucket as he passed the group when he was walking to school.

Campaign Chairman Steve Merfeld said one of his highlights was the $1,000 donation received early on.

He said he hopes the event helped raise awareness of what the increasing need is in Freeborn County. This is reflected in the increase in the campaign goal by about $50,000 from 2008.

Money raised ultimately goes to the United Way partner agencies: Adult Basic Education, Albert Lea Family Y, American Red Cross, Arc of Freeborn County, Catholic Charities, Cedar Valley Services, Circle of Parents, Community Technologies & Services, Crime Victims Crisis Center, Domestic Abuse Project, Freeborn County Chemical Dependency Center, Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys, Lutheran Social Services, Parenting Resource Center, SEMCAC Community Action, Senior Resources of Freeborn County, The Children’s Center, The Albert Lea Salvation Army and Twin Valley Boy Scouts.

Last year, the Keep the Fires Burning Event was moved to the intersection of Main Street and Garfield Avenue because of higher traffic numbers. Though there was more traffic, it was traffic moving at a faster pace, too, Austin said. Traffic is slower near the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce intersection.

Alamco donated wood for the fire, and the Albert Lea Salvation Army had its canteen in the parking lot of the United Employees Credit Union to serve hot chocolate, coffee and doughnuts.