Karen was in her sixties when she was faced with circumstances that seemed unbearable. The mother of three adult children and grandmother of two, she experienced intense anxiety when her two sons stopped talking to her daughter. Then her daughter stopped all communication with Karen and allowed her no contact with her two grandsons.

In order to calm her anxiety, Karen began drinking. She sought help at Catholic Social Services. Through counseling, Karen was able to admit to the seriousness of her alcoholism, and in time reached out to Alcoholics Anonymous for support. She also learned to use other coping techniques to calm her anxieties and circumstances beyond her control.

More than a year later, Karen is sober, has mended her relationship with her daughter and recently enjoyed visiting with her grandsons.

"Caring professionals at many United Way agencies help people in crisis put their lives and families back together again," said Black Hills United Way executive director Renee Parker.

She said the sliding fee schedule used by Catholic Social Services helps Karen and others in the low- to moderate-income bracket to afford counseling.

That service is supported by contributions now being collected in the United Way's Living United fund drive.

For information on how to become part of the solution, call 343-5872.

Fundraising goals

- Total goal: $2,100,000

- Total collected: $1,659,317

79 percent of goal

Rapid City

- Goal: $1,820,000

-Collected: $ 1,457,519

80 percent of goal

Sturgis

- Goal: $95,000

- Collected: $ 59,198

62 percent of goal

Northern Hills

- Goal: $185,000

- Collected: $142,599

77 percent of goal

How to help

The United Way's Living United campaign is raising funds for community outreach programs like Catholic Social Services. To contribute or for information, call 343-5872.