The 2010 Freeborn County United Way campaign officially kicked off Wednesday with a breakfast for United Way volunteers and partner agencies, along with the organization’s first-ever small business blitz.

During the blitz, volunteers and agency leaders went out to businesses with less than 25 employees to share the message of the United Way and collect donations.

Local United Way Director Ann Austin said the goal was to build as much support among the small businesses for the United Way as possible in a 24-hour period. In turn, organizers hoped it would help some of these businesses organize their donations earlier in the campaign.

“It really makes things more efficient for the rest of the campaign,” Austin said.

She noted the blitz gave herself and the volunteers the opportunity to connect with people and share stories of supporting the community.

Austin said so far in the campaign, local United Way giving has been up in certain areas, with some of the campaigns at the city’s larger businesses still to come in the near future.

“We are hoping for the best,” she said, noting that it’s hard to anticipate what will happen in the economy.

The organization aims to raise $650,000 through the end of the year, which is $5,000 higher than last year’s goal.

“Some people are giving who have never given before,” Austin said.

Kickoff speakers at the breakfast were local Red Cross Director Jeanie Opdahl and Carlton Frank from Community Technology and Services agency, a United Way agency which started receiving funding in 2010.

Opdahl shared stories of the aftermath of the June 17 tornadoes, and Frank gave a presentation about his agency.

Austin said during the breakfast, the group talked about what it means to give and come together as a community.

Upcoming Freeborn County United Way events include the following:

• Sept. 11: Lube-A-Thon at Hanson Tire
• Sept. 20: Live United Disc Golf Tournament
• Oct. 29: Keep the Fires Burning
• Nov. 5: Wine tasting
• Feb. 16: Campaign celebration and annual meeting
• Feb. 21-25: Week of thanks

To find out more about the local United Way, go to www.unitedwayfc.org. The office can be reached at 373-8670.