The employees of the six Publix stores in Beaufort and Jasper counties and the grocery chain have donated $309,446 to the United Way of the Lowcountry's 2012 campaign, according to a news release.

The donation is the largest gift in this year's campaign to date, said Peter Post, chairman of the local United Way board of directors.

The 2012 campaign goal is $2.8 million, and so far, United Way has raised 62 percent of that amount.