NATCHEZ &045; Those filling out United Way donation forms this year might notice a distinct difference.

They will still have the options of past &045; donating to a specific United Way-supported agency or letting their donation be distributed among all the agencies. But this year, there’s a third option: choosing to make your donation to one or more of four targeted areas of need, including:

4Supporting vulnerable populations such as youth and the elderly.

4Access to health care and basic needs.

4Building economic independence through such things as job training and classes that teach financial management skills.

4Strengthening nonprofit agencies.

Giving supporters the option of choosing such targeted areas &045; what United Way calls &uot;community impact agenda&uot; areas &045; is something the organization is adding throughout the nation, said Kathy Stephens, executive director of the United Way of the Miss-Lou.

But what those targets are varies from area to area depending on what each chapter’s board of directors finds are their regions’ greatest needs.

&uot;We’re always going to fund our agencies,&uot; Stephens said. &uot;But what we’ve found is that problems come up in our community that need to addressed for the sake of the entire community.&uot;

Examples: a high dropout rate and a focus on becoming a retirement community show the need to focus on services for youth and the elderly, Stephens said.

The cost of health care, which is increasing nationwide makes funding access to health care a priority, and plant layoffs in the Miss-Lou in recent years make such things job training and financial skills courses a necessity. The chapter’s Board of Directors helped directors of United Way-funded agencies identify the targeted areas of need.

Want to know how your money is spent after it reaches those agencies? The United Way, through a rigorous application and interview process, thoroughly checks out the agencies it will fund the coming year.

It also keeps in close contact with its agencies throughout the year. This year, it has bought a computer program to keep track of the agencies’ finances, and those who donate will be sent letters telling them what’s being done with their money.

To further help the United Way, locals can visit the organization’s jambalaya cookoff from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the convention center, with area businesses and other teams cooking the main course.

Lunch plates, including salad, roll and a soft drink, will be $2 each.