FARMINGTON - Tri-Valley Area United Way is gearing up for its annual campaign, a process that includes choosing leaders to serve as campaign chairs. Thomas and Veronica Sawyer of Chesterville will lead the campaign.

"People are chosen as chairs who are leaders, visible within the community and always helping," said Executive Director Nancy Morgan.

Sawyer has a history of helping. He served as treasurer for organizations including the United Way in the 1990s when Morgan was president. He is also an active member of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, serving on its board of directors. He's active in Rotary and the Historical Society. He's vice president of residential lending at Franklin Savings Bank, where he has been employed 30 years. Sawyer grew up in the area and graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington.

"He just came home one day and said we were going to help the United Way this year," his wife said.

"But," Sawyer quickly injected, "it's good to work on a team and who's your No. 1 supporter, anyway?"

While Sawyer is known for his gentle humor and quick wit, the reason he and his wife decided to serve, he said, is because they want to be a part of a community, not just live there.

"To be a part, you need to give and what better place," he said. "Together we can improve the lives of many."

The Sawyers are already contemplating their work. Part of it, he said, will be to find division heads to serve during the campaign. Businesses are separated into divisions such as banks, manufacturing or real estate and then visited to recruit donations. Volunteers are always needed, Sawyer said.

A new project for this year will be the production of a video using local people who have benefited from the work of the United Way. It will be shown during campaign presentations.

"When you see your neighbors, that's where it hits home." he said. "The video will show how the money raised does stay local. Look around, people do benefit here. We use every penny and could use more."

The campaign will kick off with an appearance at the Blueberry Festival in Wilton, followed by school presentations.

A goal and title for the campaign will be decided when the United Way board of directors meets this week. Last year's campaign topped their $375,000 goal, bringing in about $383,000, Morgan said. "All moneys go through the United Way, not to the United Way," she said. "We're a funneling agent."

While donors can designate where they want their donation to go, 20 agencies applied for funding last year. Nine of those that applied received 100 percent of their requested amounts.

Fundraising throughout the year is a constant project. Some of their larger projects include a golf tournament June 21 at Sugarloaf.

"There's no down time between campaigns anymore," Morgan said. "We finish one campaign and start working on another."