Donations coming up short

I read the following story and wanted to share it. I find it interesting how we quit donating when it becomes inconvient for us, because of a car payment, expensive electronics, or other things that we say we need.


Groups that help needy feeling pinch this season
By Judy Keen, USA TODAY

Shortfalls in holiday donations of gifts, food, clothing and cash for the needy are dimming Christmas spirit at many non-profit groups.
"It is certainly the bleakest year we've ever had," says Mary Perez, founder of Christmas For Everyone, which for 22 years has provided gifts, clothes and holiday feasts to about 3,000 low-income, homeless and elderly people in Concord, Calif.
Toys for Kids in Utica, N.Y., hoped to collect 7,500 toys. So far it has about 2,300 and probably will miss its target for the first time in its 17 years, co-chairman Al Pulaski says.
He blames the economy. "Gas is $3 a gallon," he says. "Winter has set in, and people are concerned about their heating bills."
Charities across the country are experiencing the same problems, says Michael Nilsen of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. "The housing crisis and problems in the economy couldn't have hit at a worse time," he says.

A survey by the group found that 26% of charities are raising less money this holiday season than a year ago, Nilsen says, and 48% are raising more.

Some holiday drives say they're forced to be less generous this Christmas:

•Samaritan House, a social services agency in San Mateo, Calif., tries to give at least five gifts to each child from about 1,400 low-income families.
This year, with toy donations 40% short of the goal, "I'll be happy if I can give them one," Samaritan House program director Sharon Petersen says.

•Project Just Because in Hopkinton, Mass., has empty bins in its warehouse that should be overflowing with gifts and warm clothing, founder Cherylann Lambert Walsh says. Last year, 4,500 families signed up for help. This year, there are 5,000. "I could really use help," she says.

•Inter-Faith Ministries in Wichita ran out of food last week when it distributed boxes of canned items to 13,433 people — including 7,183 children, development director Karen Dobbin says. The goal for cash donations was $250,000; only about $185,000 has been collected. "There's just so much need," she says.

•The Salvation Army in Rapid City, S.D., is almost $80,000 short of its $220,000 goal, spokeswoman Ronda Kreber says. "Times are tough," she says. Ten gold coins were deposited in kettles at 10 different locations last Monday, she says, but it's unclear how much they're worth.

•Radio station WA1A in Melbourne, Fla., which has given gifts to local children since 1995, this year dipped into its cash reserve for the first time to buy toys, morning host Timmy Vee says. A record 2,500 children registered, 500 more than last year. "The housing thing just blew up, and now it's blowing us up," he says.

Some groups did meet their goals. "Things started off slow, and we were getting a little nervous," says Tracy Haggerty, chairwoman of the Jaycees Toybox drive in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The group reached its target, she says, and 24 Santas distributed toys to 1,360 children.