In 1939, a group of Amherst citizens determined a need "to develop cooperation between social agencies ... in the interest of financial support of such agencies, and the effective planning and execution of the social services program in this community." The major work of the Amherst Community Association was the Community Chest Drive and allocating those funds to such local and national social service organizations as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Amherst Boys Club and Girls Club, Children's Aid and Family Services, S.P.C.C., Hampshire County Association for Retarded Citizens, and Camp Anderson.

In 1943 the Association combined the Community Chest with the National War Fund for a common drive. In 1969, when neighboring towns dissolved their independent Community Associations and reorganized as the Hampshire United Fund, the Amherst Community Association remained autonomous. In 1975, the Association and the Hampshire United Way (formerly the United Fund) hired an Executive Director. The services of Fritz Heinemann were divided between the United Way and the Association 80% - 20%. Three years later, in 1978, the two service organizations merged to form the Hampshire Community United Way.