Veronica Carr hopes her dark days are behind her.

"Dark days are when people don't give you the chance to show how nice you are," said Veronica, 7.

Because she had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Veronica struggled to make friends and focus in school.

"I felt like I was trapped in a cage with double bars," she said.

In 2008, Veronica, a second-grader at Crossroads Elementary in the Wentzville School District, began counseling sessions with Kathleen Fuller, a mental health specialist for Crider Health Center in Wentzville.

"She was having meltdowns," Fuller said. "She was very angry, having a very difficult time expressing herself and following directions. It was hard for her to function at all."

Fuller said Veronica's frustration stemmed from her inability to focus.

"She wanted to have good days, but she couldn't to it," Fuller said. "She had thoughts and feelings she could not express."

"It's like all jumbled up, all blah, blah," Veronica said.

From summer 2008 through spring 2009, Fuller worked with Veronica at school and at home to help her control her impulses so she could function socially. She taught her to express herself through writing, art and normal conversation.

"She was my first real friend," Veronica said. "After that, I started getting along with other people."

Veronica lives in O'Fallon with her parents and 5-year-old sister. Her mother, Jennifer Carr, said Fuller not only taught her daughter to express herself, but also taught the family to better communicate with Veronica.

"Kathleen provides hope," Carr said. "We still have our moments and we're still working on it, with Kathleen's help. I don't know what we'd do without it."

Fuller counsels children in three Wentzville schools. The district contracts with Crider, which receives funding from the United Way. Last year, the United Way provided $490,000 for Crider. Fuller said Crider offers its school-based programs free to kids and families.

"Without the help of the United Way, some of these programs would not be possible," Fuller said.

Veronica's sister, Samantha Carr, also receives United Way-funded services to address a speech impediment.

The United Way of Greater St. Louis supports 187 nonprofit organizations in 16 counties, including 10 with headquarters in St. Charles, Lincoln or Warren counties and 24 with satellite offices in the tri-county area.

The United Way's annual fundraising campaign runs through Oct. 17. The organization is trying to collect $3.15 million through its tri-county division, and $66.5 million throughout the St. Louis area.

Payroll deduction is the United Way's primary fund-raising method. During the annual appeal, companies ask employees to fill out forms pledging a donation per pay period.

John Glenn, the United Way's tri-county regional vice president, said 143 companies contributed last year. The economic crisis hurt last year's campaign, he said. The tri-county appeal fell $100,000 short of its $3.2 million goal.

"We lost significant dollars from some of our major donors," he said. "They sustained personnel losses and couldn't support the campaign goal."

Glenn said companies this year might be apprehensive about asking employees to contribute to the United Way.

"But this year, more people actually know someone who needs help," he said. "It hits closer to home this time. If a company has laid off 200 people, the employees know the United Way has a role in meeting some of their needs."

As job losses continue, a new group of needy people is emerging, Glenn said.

"These are people who have never had to request help before, so they don't have a clue how to get it," he said.

The St. Louis Area Food Bank reported food requests have increased 20 percent this year, Glenn said. Of these, 70 percent were first-time recipients, he said.