WHAT IS YOUR FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE WITH POVERTY?

HEAVEN AND HELL IN ONE PLACE

Break The Silence,

Almost two out of every five Los Angeles County residents do not have enough income to meet their basic needs 

Local Charities Hurting From Sluggish 

Economy

March 16, 2008 - 9:04PM

BY JOYCE LOBECK, SUN STAFF WRITER

  The sluggish economy is posing a double whammy for Yuma's charity organizations, who are finding themselves with more people on their doorstep in need of help even as there's less in their coffers to provide it.

  Add to that, the charities are facing the same rising costs in fuel and utilities that are impacting both their donors and clients.

  While times are tough now, though, they're bracing for a long, hot summer that will challenge their budgets even further.

 "Definitely, we're seeing a large downturn in donations," said Capt. Jonathan Harvey of The Salvation Army. "The last couple of months it's been really slow for donations. If we don't get those goods, we can't give them to our clients or sell them in our thrift store."

  That's likely a reflection of the economic slowdown, he said. "People are more cautious. If they don't buy a new couch, they're not donating the old one."

  As for cash donations, what people may once have donated to their favorite organization is now going to pay their increased utility bills and to fill their gas tanks, he said.

  At the same time, Harvey said, requests for assistance are up dramatically. It's a trend he's been seeing for the past year, but one that is accelerating.

  In January, the agency saw a 39 percent increase in cases from January 2007, he said. In February, there was a 48 percent increase in cases from the previous February.

  It's the same story for Crossroads Mission and the Yuma Community Food Bank.

  At Crossroads Mission, every penny is being stretched as far as possible, said Myra Garlit, executive director. "We're seeing a marked decrease in cash donations."

  And she estimates that donations to the thrift store, a vital source of revenue for the mission, are about half what they were. That's based on the number of trips the truck makes to pick up donations, she said, which has dropped from 15 to 20 a day to six or fewer.

  Meanwhile, the mission is bedding overflow crowds of people in need of shelter on the floor at both the men's dorm and the family shelter, she said.

  With the electric bill for the mission's facilities already in the thousands of dollars, Garlit said she's expecting a rough summer. At the same time, she's clinging to the hope that the community will provide.

  "Last summer we were down to one can of green beans in our pantry. Then a 4-H group came in with a food drive. The community comes through."

  She invites residents to come visit the mission and see the real need not just for men, but also women and children.

  The food bank has been seeing a 10 to 15 percent increase in requests for emergency and supplementary food across the board for its various programs, said Ronna Sue Stubbs, executive director.

  "With the economy the way it is, more people are needing help. At the same time, it's harder to raise dollars."

  That's even more true during the summer, when donors' thoughts turn to vacations rather than giving, while seasonal workers need food to feed their families.

  New sources of food donations are also being developed through the food bank's membership with Second Harvest.

  For example, soon the food bank will begin picking up outdated and pulled product from Wal-Mart and Sam's Club, she said. "I have no idea yet of the impact, but I believe it will be sizable."

  That food will go into boxes for families who come to the agency, and also help other charities that look to the food bank for food assistance for their own programs, she said.

Diana Nicholson,

executive director/

www.zeropoverty.us 

join us!