They're expecting another big crowd for Thursday's luncheon,  just like they had at the Civic Center last year. This year's goal is 1,945,000 in Rapid City.

United Way executive director Renee Parker says with budget cuts a lot of non-profits are facing, they need United Way more than ever. 

Parker says, "We initially set our goal at a pretty conservative pace and then we had to go back to the table and raise that a little bit when we learned how many cuts all of our non-profit organizations have received in different fundings. So we know they're going to be relying on United Way dollars now more than ever."

After the luncheon, about 1,400 volunteers will spread out across the city to do 85 service projects. That includes our own group from right here at Black Hills FOX.

Jack Caudill