The Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee will collect funds this year to benefit five Lawrence organizations.

The charitable parade’s committee has announced the recipients as Women’s Transitional Care Services, Douglas County CASA, Family Promise of Lawrence, VanGo Mobile Arts and the Lawrence Humane Society.

In 23 years, the parade committee has raised more than $527,000 for local charities. Several fundraising events will take place between now and the parade on March 17, 2010. The parade’s Web site has a schedule of the fundraising events.

This year’s recipients plans to use the funding in a variety of ways.

• Women’s Transitional Care Services aids victims of domestic violence, and the funding will provide more beds as well as additional services for children who are not at the organization’s shelter.

• Douglas County Court Appointed Special Advocates is moving into a new office space, and it needs the funding to help make it ADA-compliant and to acquire child-friendly furnishings.

• Family Promise of Lawrence, which aids homeless families, needs money to refurbish and furnish its day center.

• VanGo Mobile Arts, which works with at-risk students to provide academic support, job skills and responsibility is seeking funds to continue its mission.

• The Lawrence Humane Society aims to support its third-grade educational outreach program.