It's been helping Zelienople-area nonprofits for more than 75 years. Now it's asking for the community's help.

The Zelienople Community Chest, which raises funds for various charities in the region, has seen its board size shrink from its usual five to three members in the past year. Steve Casker, organization president, and Pat Murray, vice president, say they're hoping residents can join the board.

“I think everybody on the board right now has been on the board for at least 15 years,” Casker said.

The chest raises between $40,000 and $50,000 each year, according to Casker, with all of that money, save the chest's printing and mailing costs, donated in turn to the Zelienople Area Public Library, the community park and the Southwest Butler Food Cupboard, among other organizations that he called “the backbone of the community.”

“They really do rely on this money to keep operating,” Casker said. “It's important that it continues, and that we donate.”

Casker described the board member position as low-commitment and highly rewarding, saying the time allotted to the group is minimal compared to the benefits provided to the community.

“It's not a huge time taker,” he added.

Much of the board's work includes soliciting local businesses for donations to these charities. Casker said members are generally not expected to cold-visit the businesses, instead contacting people with whom they already have relationships.

Half of the chest's donations come from its fall mailing campaign, in which they ask residents via mailers to donate. But beyond that and the business solicitations, Casker said, the chest doesn't eat up much of its members' time.

“We don't do any of the spaghetti dinner type things or golf outings,” he said. “We're mainly direct contact.”

And for that effort, the results are rewarding.

“It's not a huge time commitment, but you do make a huge difference to the charities that we do raise funds for,” Murray said.

Those interested in joining or donating can contact Casker at 724-425-5020 or Murray at 724-452-4513.