The 50th Combined Federal Campaign pledge drive brought in the second highest dollar amount ever for the South Puget Sound, but the campaign isn't just about the money.

For those involved most closely, the CFC was about a spirit of service and connecting to the community, and a way of reminding people of what really matters when times are tough.

"It's always challenging raising money," said CFC of South Puget Sound Director Melanie Manista-Rushforth. But in spite of the challenge and a down economy, organizers predict that Soldiers, Airmen and other federal employees committed to donating around $1.35 million to local and national charities.

The pledges are automatically deducted from employees paychecks and sent to agencies of their choice. Since the last day to solicit pledges in December, the CFC has pulled in $1,325,932, with expectations of more once online contributions have been added in.

Already the campaign is the second-largest ever, following last year's total of $1.41 million.

Manista-Rushforth sees a few reasons for the jump - first, in recent years a lot more servicemembers have been home and able to make helping others a priority. Second, servicemembers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord tend to be more seamlessly integrated into their communities than at other installations, making them more likely to want to give back to them.

"Once the family unit is back together, they can rethink giving," she said.

There aren't results yet showing which charities were most popular, but Manista-Rushforth says historically servicemembers have given heavily to organizations "inside the fence." JBLM's Fisher House and the USO are always big recipients, but agencies that support children and animals get a lot of attention, too.

But outside charities are not forgotten, which says a lot to Manista-Rushforth. She's prior service herself, and remembers being stationed places where military members all lived near each other, looked like each other and didn't interact much with the civilian world.

Here, she said, it's different - and that benefits everyone.

"When you feel like you're actually part of the community that's supporting you, you're more likely to contribute," she said. "You don't get that silo effect."

For her the best part of the campaign was watching the four loaned executives - employees temporarily tasked to the

CFC from the U.S. Postal Service, JBLM (both Army and Air Force) and Madigan Army Medical Center - embody the sense of social consciousness that's so important. In fact, she wishes more people would follow their lead.

"I want people to stop being so afraid to support their community," she said.

After all, when you support your community you ensure that it's able to support you.