Cliff Merritt calls it the &uot;mutual fund of giving.&uot; Merritt, who serves as co-chairman of this year’s United Way of the Greater Miss-Lou’s fund-raising drive, believes the organization gives donors the most for their money.

&uot;This is an appealing agency because the money stays at home,&uot; Merritt said of United Way, which spreads its money among 25 Miss-Lou agencies. &uot;Eighty-five percent of it goes directly to the agencies.&uot;

United Way volunteers like Merritt have different reasons for joining the organization, but they all recognize its power to provide for many different area agencies.

Merritt, president of Central Louisiana Bank in Vidalia, La., has been volunteering with United Way for about 20 years.

&uot;It’s a way I can use my limited funds to help a lot of people,&uot; Merritt said.

Longtime volunteer Barbara Winkworth joined United Way about eight years ago when she gave part of a monetary award for volunteerism to the group. &uot;I wanted to spread (the award) out,&uot; she said.

She chose United Way because it supports so many different agencies — and ended up being asked to volunteer herself.

Winkworth said United Way takes a hands-on approach to helping people in the community.

&uot;United Way has its finger on what the needs of the community are,&uot; Winkworth said.

Winkworth serves on United Way’s allocations committee, which is charged with divvying up the funds raised each year to the different agencies.

Winkworth doesn’t overlook the responsibility that entails.

&uot;You’re confident that you’re being a good steward with someone’s money,&uot; she said.

Likewise, longtime volunteer Helene Buttross said allocations committee members take great care in researching the agencies that request funds. The committee meets and interviews representatives from each agency, who present their budget requests and answer questions from committee members.

The committee members then rate each organization and meet again to determine who receives what funds.

The committee encourages agencies that aren’t just looking for a handout, Buttross said.

&uot;We like to see an agency that also helps themselves,&uot; she said. &uot;We’re dealing with people’s money. We’re very particular about where it goes.&uot;

And while she appreciates what United Way is able to give to the community, Buttross said she receives just as much from the organization.

&uot;It’s always that when we give we receive,&uot; Buttross said. &uot;It feels good to know I have some positive hand in the community.&uot;