ZELIENOPLE — Last year, the Connoquenessing Valley Community Chest set its annual fundraising goal at $40,000. By the end of the campaign, it collected about $61,000 — a record for the organization.

“It was a banner year,” said Steve Casker, president of the group.

The success came from the generosity of the community and significant contributions from the Zelienople chapters of the American Legion and Hungarian Club, Casker said.

The community chest will soon start its campaign for this year with a goal of $45,000.

The community chest gives funds to the Zelienople Community Park; the Southwestern Butler County Food Cupboard; the Zelienople, Harmony and Evans City Meals on Wheels; Parents in Toto; and the Zelienople Public Library.

Residents of Jackson Township, Lancaster Township, Harmony and Zelienople will receive donation forms in the mail and members of the 10-person community chest board will seek donations from businesses and organizations.

The drive will run through February.

The community chest board decides how to distribute the funds based on needs. Each beneficiary submits a report outlining its finances and requesting money for specific purposes, Casker said.

The biggest donations typically are given to the library and the community park, he said.

“Most people don’t realize what it takes to run those things. They don’t understand the needs that they have and these are pillars of the community,” he said.

Checks made out to Connoquenessing Valley Community Chest can be mailed to P.O. Box 343, Zelienople, PA 16063 or made through PayPal at the website www.cvcommunitychest.com.

For information, call Casker at 724-452-5020, e-mail him at info@cvcommunitychest.com or visit the group’s website.

Founded in 1944, this year marks the community chest’s 70th anniversary.