W hile response is generous to hurricane and earthquake survivors, could this be a lean year for local health and social service agencies?

Organizers of United Way of Island County’s fund drive hope donors will dig a little deeper this year to help vulnerable community members.

United Way organizers recognize recent disasters tug at donor’s heart strings and wallets, but local service providers already are struggling with cutbacks in government funding.

“It’s a tough time for agencies,” said Cathy Norton, executive director of the United Way of Island County.

Local agencies partner with the United Way to bring key services to people of all ages and abilities.

Programs serving the mentally ill are among the hardest hit by government budget cuts. As a result, Compass Mental Health is one of United Way’s largest recipients, typically receiving about $50,000 annually, Norton said.

The 2005-2006 goal is raising $385,000 — about the same as the last campaign.

Raising a separate $385,000 is United Way’s 2005-2006 goal for the combined federal employees campaign. These folks are employed at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station and at local branches of the U.S. Post Office.

Thanks to donors to the United Way, agencies are able to help people county-wide.

Families at the Toddler Learning Center number among United Way beneficiaries.

“United Way is one of our most constant supporters,” said Toni Kotschwar, executive director of the Toddler Learning Center.

The early intervention program serves children from birth to 36 months who have some type of delay in their development. It could be as mild as a speech delay or as involved as cerebral palsy. Staff at the center work with parents and caregivers to maximize a child’s progress.

But first, free screening is offered to any child a parent is concerned about. Speech and motor therapists, parent educators, and a bevy of resources are available.

More importantly, though, staff make home visits to show families how to integrate therapy into everyday living.

Forty-one children are registered at the center in Oak Harbor, 11 families in Coupeville are served and four on South Whidbey, Kotschwar said

Something new is a Mother’s Circle for mothers of children up to 2 years old, to provide the support and networking that can make the difference in parenting a child in today’s mobile society. The mom’s group ties into other resources, such as the Readiness to Learn program and the Family Support Alliance Group, she said.

About $18,000 a year from United Way campaign typically goes to the Toddler Learning Center.

This infusion of money helps in many ways, including the child who is about to fall through the cracks because a need doesn’t match strict rules that go along with government funding and grants.

“It makes all the difference between saying yes or no,” Kotschwar said.