SALISBURY — Rowan County United Way has reached 73 percent of its $1.6 million fundraising goal, the agency reported Tuesday.

The campaign had raised $1,172,460 as of Wednesday.

The Every Day, the United Way campaign was extended and will now end Nov. 28, allowing extra time to meet the goal.

Using the analogy of a football game, Chairman John Struzick said the campaign is in the final quarter and needs to get a win.

“We’re going to work as hard as every day to make sure this happens and we bring this thing home,” Struzick said. “We have a lot of people counting on this $1.6 million. We’ve got to get out there and get it done.”

Several representative spoke at a report meeting Tuesday about how the United Way has provided funding to agencies, including Cora Shinn, who has been a member of the YMCA for 60 years.

“I would like to thank the United Way for your continued support and on behalf of all the boys and girls, men and women in Rowan County,” Shinn said. “I feel like we have stronger bodies, stronger spirits, stronger minds from what we received in services from the YMCA.”

Daniel Michael of the Red Cross talked about how United Way assistance helps that agency respond to people in need along with other agencies it supports.

“We’re very grateful,” Michael said. “We’re grateful for the folks who donate to the United Way because when you guys do that, when everyone does that, we’re able to do what we do. The rescue squad is able to do what they do.”

Struzick said United Way means giving to multiple agencies that helps serve the Rowan County community instead of one.

“That one check that people write to the United Way, it serves all of these agencies that we’ve heard from at all four of these report meetings,” Struzick said. “You can say, ‘Well, I want to help the Red Cross.’ Well, you’re helping the Red Cross when you help the United Way. “I want to help the old-timers at Rufty-Holmes (Senior Center).’ Well, when you write that check for the United Way, you are helping.

And you’re doing that with everything you can think of that comes through all of our agencies,” he continued. “We just thank you so much for everything that you do.”

The campaign finale will be Nov. 28 at the Rowan County United Way office.