| Bad economy slams some area charities |
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By: By AMANDA CARTER, Post intern
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Posted: Sunday, July 20, 2008 9:00 am
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This year’s economic difficulties have not only turned past donors into people of need, but it also has charities struggling to help.
Capt. Joe Anderson, commanding officer of the Murfreesboro Salvation Army, reported that people are being more cautious with their donations compared to past years.
“We’re seeing it both ways. Not only are people donating less, but people are needing more,” Anderson said.
In attempts to revive the charity, The Salvation Army went out last Saturday for the first time out of the Christmas season and rang bells at two different locations to collect funds.
“We’re still here doing the best we can,” a hopeful Anderson said. “We’re still doing the most good.”
Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, another local charity, is also lacking in donations.
For the first time, the food bank has experienced seeing past donators standing in line for food assistance themselves.
The food bank has seen an increase of more than 10 percent from last year in people who need aid, and its donations have not kept pace with that need.
“The lack of donations has made us choose between using our money to buy more food or putting less food in the emergency food banks,” said Matthew Bourlakas, chief operating officer of Second Harvest. “Because of our beliefs, we choose to keep filling the food banks.”
Second Harvest not only has to battle less donations, it also has to battle high gas prices. With 13-14 trucks traveling 800 miles a day, the food bank is searching for alternatives to save on gas.
“We are trying to plan more efficient routes for our trucks when picking up and delivering food,” Bourlakas said. “We also send out e-mails to our employees regarding car pooling.”
The food bank continues to encourage people to donate individually by placing food in barrels at local Kroger stores and to start food drives with their jobs or schools. Volunteers are also needed to sort food.
Although other local charities are hurting, Meals on Wheels has not had too much trouble with the bad economy. With volunteers who deliver using their own gas, the charity mostly only worries about funding the meals.
“We have been really lucky, especially with our volunteers delivering,” said Debbie Willis, site coordinator of Meals on Wheels in Murfreesboro. “Despite the economy, we still get donations, but as always, we can use even more.”
With food costs increasing, the charity tries to resume service by cutting corners on the menus. Due to lack of funding, there is a continuous waiting list, but it is not worse now than any other time of the year.
“We have about 20 people on the waiting list now, but we had about 60 around Christmas,” Willis said.
Despite the economic decrease, the site coordinator is amazed at how well Meals on Wheels is doing.
“We are really grateful for the dedication of the volunteers and the people that do come in and give donations,” Willis said. “Our volunteers and donators are continuously thinking of others, and they prove that good people are out there.”
The United Way of Rutherford and Canon Counties, an organization that supports health and human service programming by raising funds in the community, has had an increase in funding requests.
“People are losing grant money because of the economy, and as the community grows, its needs grow,” said Rachel Holder, president of United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties.
Holder also notes that people continue to be extremely giving, probably because they get a sense of “that could be me.” With the bad economy, there are no guarantees.
“People are realizing the effect the bad economy is having on their neighbors, and it causes them to continue giving,” Holder said.
United Way is well prepared for the decrease in economy. For several years, it has diversified its funding by seeking alternative grant sources, and reaching out to different places in the community.
“We have been well prepared on the front end, and I think it’s a good year for our campaign,” Holder said. |
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