ZELIENOPLE — The Connoquenessing Valley Community Chest has once again achieved it goal for the 2016-17 fundraising year, officials said.

The local annual fundraising campaign that kicked off in September, raised about $43,000 as of Thursday, exceeding its $40,000 goal.

“We kind of had an off year,” said CVCC President Steve Casker. “But we’ve exceed our goals for at least the past few years.”

Casker said final totals have not yet been tallied.

The CVCC is a nonprofit organization that provides direct financial help to several assets and organizations in the area, including the community park, the Southwestern Butler County Food Cupboard, Meals on Wheels, Parents In Toto Autism Resource Center and the public library.

The community chest has been raising funds for such groups and others since 1944 and uses volunteer help. Services are provided for Zelienople, Harmony, Lancaster Township and Jackson Township.

“I credit the community and businesses that give every single year and continue to support our organization,” Casker said. “We understand how important these entities we support are. We’re happy to play our part in helping them move forward with their operating costs and goals.”

The community chest divides the money between the organizations based on need. Nearly all of the money donated goes to the organizations since the only expenses are for printing and mailing donation forms.

Volunteers mail out a newsletter with a donation form to households in Harmony and Zelienople and ask local businesses for donations.

The organization will send out a wrap-up newsletter announcing the final total raised and thanking the donors for their support.

For information about the community chest, visit www.cvcommunitychest.com.