A recent full-page ad from the United Way of Butler County featured the headline, "I give at the office." That's a phrase that workers across Butler County should take pride in saying.

The payroll deduction feature, long associated with United Way, is evidence of strong corporate support for the organization's good work — and also is a painless way for employees to donate. Spreading out a charitable contribution to the United Way over the entire year amounts to just a few dollars a week, or even just a dollar a week.

The popularity and effectiveness of workplace campaigns and the associated corporate giving is found in the $800,000 raised annually in Butler County through such campaigns to help as many as 20,000 children and 5,000 adults and families.

That's a lot of money doing a lot of good.

But as impressive as those figures are, Butler County can do even more if more people would participate in workplace giving and donate even a dollar or two a week to the United Way. Givers of larger gifts, who contribute based on their financial ability, are still necessary. But the heart and soul of the United Way remains the workplace campaign with employees designating a few dollars a week to help others through the United Way member agencies such as the American Red Cross, Lifesteps, Salvation Army, Butler County Children's Center, Butler Regional Recovery Center, Lighthouse Foundation, Mental Health Association, Visiting Nurses Association as well another 20 social or human service agencies.

With this year's United Way campaign well underway, those who do give at the office should encourage their co-workers to join them in this worthwhile — and painless —effort to help those less fortunate among us. For those workers who don't have the option to participate in payroll deduction for United Way, they should talk to their boss about starting a workplace campaign.

For the workers with no direct connection to a United Way agency, there is a doubtless a connection. Just about anyone can survey friends, neighbors, co-workers and relatives to find a United Way connection — through adult day care, a food pantry, early intervention for developmentally challenged children, drug rehab and recovery, mental health services, temporary housing, subsidized day care or scores of other programs.

Learning of the vital and, in some cases, life saving services provided by United Way agencies, it's good to be able to say, "I give at the office."

Now is the time to do it, and spread the word to others about joining the payroll deduction program at work so that they too can feel good about saying, "I give at the office."