So far, local businesses and donors have contributed $780,000.

“This is almost halfway toward our $1,625,000 goal with six weeks left in the campaign,” said Ann Thompson, executive director for United Way. “This is a great start for us.”

Good news came this week from H-E-B, raising $80,000 and the Belton Independent School District coming in at $23,275.

“We’re so impressed with the participation of both H-E-B and Belton ISD this year,” Thompson said. “Every year both of them are always one of our strongest supporters and what is amazing is that in both instances a lot of the donations come from kids who are simply giving from the heart.”

Thompson tells the story of a 16-year-old employee at H-E-B who she met while shopping one day.

“He told me that he donated to United Way and designated it to the Ralph Wilson Youth Clubs. I told him, ‘Thank you so much for your gift,’ just assuming that it was maybe $10 or so. I was amazed when he told me that he gave $500 to RWYC,” she said.

“He felt that the Ralph Wilson Youth Clubs saved his life when he was going through a difficult time. He said most of the kids in his neighborhood were either in jail or dead because of the bad things they’d gotten into,” she said. “Instead of going home after school and hanging around with those kids, this young man rode the blue bus to RWYC. He taught me that being able to give back is one of the most important things a person can do.”

With the downturn in the national economy, it’s especially important to give back this year.

The United Way of Central Texas supports 28 agencies that help local residents with an array of needs, including senior citizen centers, services for children, crisis shelters and more.