NATCHEZ &045; It’s been said the best way to see how United Way donations benefit one’s friends and neighbors is to go directly to United Way agencies, watching as they perform their work.

But perhaps the next best way, especially in today’s rushed society, is to have those agencies bring their stories to the public.

That’s what happened Saturday when several agencies that receive funds from United Way set up booths throughout Natchez Mall as part of the organization’s public awareness campaign.

In this case, the timing was especially good, since United Way of the Miss-Lou will kick off its next annual fund-raising campaign with a jambalaya event later this month.

But those who set up information booths and talked with the public Saturday said any time’s a good time to get the word out on what they do and what such donations go to benefit.

&uot;It’s one of the best ways we have to get information out to people in our area,&uot; said Martha Mitternight, executive director of Catholic Charities in Natchez.

In addition, Mitternight said she learned Saturday about programs other agencies have that could benefit Catholic Charities’ clients.

Janet McNeely was also there representing the Natchez Senior Citizen Multipurpose Center. That center works in conjunction with the Natchez Council on Aging, a United Way agency.

And McNeely said through Saturday’s event, she learned of ways the senior center could possibly partner with Catholic Charities in the future.

Agencies also participating in Saturday’s awareness day included the Coalition of Children and Youth, the Girl Scouts, the Boy Scouts, the American Red Cross, the Natchez-Adams Humane Society and Habitat for Humanity.

Other included 4-H programs in Adams County and Concordia Parish, the Concordia Council on Aging, Partnership for a Healthy Adams County and the T.M. Jennings youth baseball league.