Not too late to join in

So many of us look to local politics to take the measure of a community.

That's fine - as long as you're satisfied with a skewed and inaccurate measurement.

A community's temperature may be best taken at the local United Way.

That's where the true character of a community shows.

And Augusta has character.

Consider:

 •  A 22-year-old Russian exchange student here was so moved by a local television station's commitment to the United Way campaign that she pledged a dollar a week.

 •  Thanks to Randy Barrs of Procter and Gamble, several companies here, including P&G, Kellogg and Evercare, last year began swapping products with each other for employee incentives to give to the United Way. There's been an upswing in several company campaigns as a result.

 •  Former University of Georgia running back Garrison Hearst donated an autographed football to the United Way campaign at Kendall Corp.

 •  Helen Hendee of Augusta State University some 15 years ago began holding Christmas parties to raise money for the United Way to purchase bicycles for kids whose families can't afford them.

 •  Electrolux Home Products, based in Augusta, reported a 90-percent employee participation rate in its campaign and a 38-percent increase over last year.

 •  At the Augusta Housing Authority, where nobody works to get rich, 190 employees gave an average of $242 a head to the United Way.

 •  At EZ Go, the United Way campaign increased 14 percent over last year, and the corporate gift doubled.

Forget the politics. It's these and similar examples of selflessness that truly define a community.

The thing is, a community must define itself each and every day. And in the case of the United Way campaign, while a lot of the heavy lifting has been done, the work must go on into the new year. Only about 74 percent of this year's goal of $4.4 million has been met. The United Way is counting on individuals and groups to continue coming forward during and after the holidays.

The need, after all, doesn't take a day off.

But in a community with Augusta's character, needs get met. Period.

(You can contribute to the United Way at any time. Call 724-5544 or send checks to the United Way, P.O. Box 1724, Augusta, Ga., 30903.)