Charities struggling to fulfill needs

The past year proved to be a trying one for local service agencies. Many charitable organizations are reporting an increase in need and a decrease in donations, largely due to a down economy.

The stock market's effect

Tobias Meeker, executive director of The Kitchen Inc., said the organization receives 20 percent to 30 percent of its total donations at the end of the year. Through the second week of December, The Kitchen was down about 20 percent compared to the same time period in 2001. Meeker said the stock market is at least partly to blame for decreased funding received through ongoing sources such as private foundation grants and large gifts received from long-time, consistent donors.

"Foundations are largely funded through investments. And individuals who have the means to make large donations are also very much affected by the stock market," he said.

Julie Guillebeau, chief operating officer at the Council of Churches, said Crosslines is almost 100 percent dependent on donations.

"We're seeing the donations continue to come in at about the same level, but some are a little less," Guillebeau said. "Financially, we're holding our own, but our need has seen a dramatic increase."

The increase in needs is due partly to corporate layoffs and an overall sluggish economy, Guillebeau said.

"That just slows everything down. I think we'll continue to see an increase in demand until we have an improvement in the stock market and the overall economy," she said.

Dependent on donations

Bart Brown, executive director of Ozarks Food Harvest, said the food bank supplies approximately 270 not-for-profit agencies in 37 counties in southwest Missouri.

"We are dependent on donations for about 40 percent of our income," Brown said.

Ozarks Food Harvest distributes between 4 million and 5 million pounds of food product per year to area food pantries, so the organization is also heavily dependent on food donations, he said.

Food pantries are no longer only used as an emergency food source, Brown said. People are now using food pantries to supplement low wages or welfare programs, he said, adding that he does not foresee a change in the near future.

"Demand for food from our food bank will continue to rise. That's a natural result of the negative impact of the economy over the past year," Brown said.

For 2002, Salvation Army reported an increase of 8 percent to 10 percent in social service needs, including clothing, food and shelter.

The Salvation Army's Tree of Lights campaign, which includes the familiar bell ringers as well as a direct mail appeal, is the organization's largest annual fund raising project.

"Our goal is to raise $385,000 during our campaign this year," said Don Thomson, Tree of Lights chairman. The terrorist attacks affected the 2001 campaign, but they eventually reached their goal.

"Our campaign last year was successful, it just took longer," he said.

The Springfield Victory Mission stayed within 1 percent of its budget for 2002, according to Jim Harriger, executive director. That task has not been easy, considering approximately $60,000 was cut from the budget, he said.

"It has been a very tight year."

Because of budget cuts, the organization was forced to use more volunteers instead of employing paid staff, and it had to rely heavily on donations in order to continue the level of service it provided in 2001, Harriger said.

Community help

Service agencies rely on help from the communities they serve. Monetary donations are always welcome, as are in-kind donations, such as food, clothing, cleaning supplies, office supplies and construction materials.

Guillebeau noted that people who are not able to donate money can donate their time and talents.

"We just need everybody's help," she said.

Volunteers are often needed by area agencies to help process paperwork, stuff newsletters, distribute food, baby-sit and teach classes. Guillebeau said volunteers are especially needed to help with home repair services for the elderly or disabled.

Meeker said agencies such as The Kitchen are often in need of updated computer networks and internal phone systems. Businesses can pass on old systems to charitable organizations and possibly receive a tax credit, he said.

Even during tough times when donations are low and needs are high, service agency officials have faith that the needs will be met.

"It will be there in the end," Thomson said.