United Way of Butler County is not pleased with having to cut the size of grants to member agencies by 1 percent.

But those agencies should consider themselves lucky, given the ongoing troubled economy, many companies experiencing lower profits, and so many people still without jobs, or facing wage freezes and other financial hardships.

The fact is that many potential contributors — even many of those still with jobs — are having trouble making ends meet — although, in some cases, not buying several lottery tickets or smoking fewer cigarettes a day would free up money that could be donated to the more worthy United Way cause.

On the whole, Butler County's economy is faring better than many others' in the commonwealth, but there still is plenty of hardship here.

Despite all that, it's still ironic that an agency whose mission is helping others is itself in need of significantly more help than its annual fundraising campaigns have been generating.

Local United Way officials didn't hesitate in pointing to some of the reasons why grants had to be trimmed this year. One was a decline in the amount of general money not pledged to a specific organization during the fundraising effort that began last fall (designated funds to specific agencies or programs increased during the latest campaign); a second was a decline in the money pledged by national companies with offices or facilities in this county.

What United Way officials failed to call attention to — presumably so not to offend potential future contributors — was the lack of — or low level of — support from people and companies with the financial wherewithal to support the united giving effort, but, for whatever reason, have failed to do so.

An area that has experienced the kind of growth this county has witnessed over the past two decades should be capable of meeting or topping a $2 million campaign goal, but instead, year after year, has had difficulty topping $1.25 million.

It's clear that some potential resources are not being tapped by United Way volunteers, but it doesn't take a lot of energy for individuals and businesses who have not been contacted to call in a pledge, or, in the case of commercial or industrial establishments, seek guidance on how to set up or conduct in-plant payroll-deduction giving.

United Way volunteers merit praise for the work they do each year to bring in the money that is needed to fund vital services, and this year for the emergency three-month fundraiser begun in May that raised $125,000 above what was collected or pledged during the regular campaign fundraising just concluded.

But this year has rendered additional proof that Butler County is not United Way-oriented to the degree that it ought to be. If it were, the rate of contribution would be up significantly.

Perhaps there needs to be some rethinking of the local United Way message, or expanded in-person contacts — although United Way's pool of volunteers is not limitless. There are only so many in-person contacts that can be made at campaign time.

The solution might be an aggressive year-round effort emphasizing in-person contacts — so that when campaign time arrives, the foundation will be in place for more payroll-deduction giving.

If people really understood the important things United Way does, they would have to have cold hearts to avoid giving something.

No one can fault the cadre of hardworking United Way employees and volunteers for the failure to beat the annual campaign goal year after year during the time parameters of the official fundraising effort.

However, the annual campaign money-raising difficulties, coupled with this year's decision to reduce the size of grants to member agencies, calls for innovative approaches to complement what traditionally has been done.

Would selling $5 or $10 chances countywide on a popular vehicle be feasible? Could it produce enough profit to justify such an initiative?

Perhaps a car dealership in the county would be willing to provide such a vehicle at or below cost — or at a much lower cost, as its show of support to the good that United Way does.

It wouldn't hurt to ask.

A 1 percent grant reduction doesn't spell crisis for member agencies, but 1 percent is 1 percent too much — and must not become a regular occurrence.