The United Way of the Greater Capital Region, the Schenectady County Department of Social Services and other organizations are seeing or expect to see more people seeking help because of worsening economic conditions.

“The climate has changed. It’s going to be challenging for people to think about reading when they are hungry,” said United Way Chief Executive Officer Katherine D. Pelham.

Pelham, who outlined the nonprofit agency’s goals for fiscal year 2008-09 at its annual meeting in Latham today, said the United Way hopes to raise $10 million to meet community needs.

It raised $9.9 million in 2007-08, distributing 85 percent of the total to nearly 1,000 nonprofits and to programs aimed at helping people. The United Way does not provide services, but raises money and awards grants.

Pelham said community groups with which it works are sounding the alarm about worsening economic conditions in the communities they serve.

“We are living in extraordinary times, and we need to do the best we can to forecast what is coming and to be leaders,” Pelham said.

The United Way will work with a local university in coming months to quantify the seriousness of the problem, part of its community needs assessment process, Pelham said.

“We don’t want to raise alarms; it’s an alert. We have identified a potential issue that needs to be discussed,” she said.