Portage Plains United Way (PPUW) is hoping for a surge in donations in order to meet its annual fundraising goal of $247,500.

PPUW executive director Mandy Dubois says with a month and a half to go in their campaign -- ending on Dec. 31, 2016 -- they're only about 39 per cent of the way to the target. She says donations have been slow, and PPUW is well behind where it was at last year this late into the drive.

"You don't want to panic as of yet, however we are getting close to the home stretch of our campaign," Dubois says. "And we're really not seeing the numbers increase a lot."

Dubois maintains a positive outlook, and says she thinks the slower start to donations may be tied to the unseasonably warm weather the Portage area has been receiving.

"People aren't in that Christmas giving spirit as of yet," Dubois says. "Or maybe they don't realize it's almost the end of November because we don't have any snow on the ground."

"I think maybe I'm the only person in Portage la Prairie wishing for snow."

Dubois notes the campaign goal is set by the financial needs of the 11 funded agencies. She adds hitting the target is important for the community, to ensure the programming and services provided by those organizations that rely on PPUW funds continue.

"They come to us with what they need to run the programs and services, and then we set our goal," Dubois explains. "These are funds that are needed for our community to continue seeing the programs and services through those member agencies, and the community response fund."