Suggestion for stretching giving with seed gifts
Nonprofits remind donors of daily disasters

A similar story rings through area nonprofits that serve hungry, homeless and hopeless people: Cuts from government and grantors may cut into their ability to serve people in need. 

House fires, car accidents,  job loss, divorces, domestic violence, deaths, illness, disability, broken pipes, power outages, exclusion and inability to pay for heat, housing, food or health care are among the myriad of everyday disasters.

“Media effectively elicited generosity for major disasters. Now nonprofits wonder if donors will come through in December for daily, local disasters,” said Fig Tree editor Mary Stamp, proposing: “Donors can stretch usual giving with seed gifts.”

If 100,000 people each give $5 more than usual to each of their top 10 nonprofit recipients—churches, faiths, ministries, services, agencies, advocacy networks and nonprofit media—it would generate $50 more per person, a $5 million boost overall. 

“It would not solve problems of injustice, but would flow more cash into the area’s ‘caring economy’ beyond the Christmas Fund,” she said.  “Some can stretch to $6, $10 or more per nonprofit.”


Federal budget cuts in 2005 pass through layers of agencies

Federal funding cuts passed through the state level and layers of agencies mean reduced funding for MidCity Concerns programs. The level of need remains the same.  MidCity serves 350 Meals on Wheels and 100 people at the Spokane Senior Center each day. 

Volunteers, though dropping initially with rising fuel costs, remain steady.

Cheri Mataya, director, said when the programs started 90 percent of funds came from churches.  Now churches provide three percent of funds, and grants are limited. So they raise 50 percent of funds from the community through an auction and the March for Meals in Northtown.

“We made staff cuts, so we need a volunteer to answer phones in the morning to save staff time for other tasks,” Cheri said.

For information, call 456-6597.

Even small cuts affect senior and other programs

Reimbursing volunteers six cents more a mile is one more cost affecting Senior Nutrition, Foster Grandparents, Housing Social Services, Volunteer Chore Services and Bernatte Place, said Monique Kolonko, director of senior services with Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Spokane.

She sees “daily disasters” people experience being affected by giving to the big disasters.

Another small cost being passed on to Senior Nutrition is $100 for the Regional Health District to inspect it for its permit, a service they previously absorbed.

When Spokane Valley Foundation lost funding, Volunteer Chore Services picked up 40 more clients, so it needs more volunteers for driving and light housekeeping.

For information, call 328-8400.

Cuts compound, eliminating basic safety net

Cuts at every level to partner agencies affect services through the various Volunteers of America programs, said Marilee Roloff, director.

Mental health cuts also mean that the triage program no longer receive walk-in clients at night.  So Hope House is now taking in more women needing psychological care, rather than just shelter.

“Cuts are compounding on all levels—child welfare, mental health and the education system—hurting all programs,” Marilee said. “The proposed cuts in Medicaid and food stamps are unconscionable.  They eliminate the most basic safety nets.”

VOA programs have lost direct funding, a reduction in the Passages program that helps parents with children in mental health services.  In addition, a federal runaway and homeless youth grant was not renewed in September.

Marilee said these are the toughest times she has ever seen.

For information, call 624-2378.

Agencies hope for year-end generosity

November and December will help community service agencies know how deep people’s pockets are, said Ann Price, director of donor and community relations at Second Harvest of the Inland Northwest.

Many have given generously for disaster relief in the fall, but those funds left the community.

In addition, this fall, Jason Clark, director, responded personally, helping staff the America Second Harvest Warehouse in Baker, La., distributing relief food to Gulf Coast food banks.

“We raise a third of our food supplies and funds in November and December.  If we are short, then we are short through the winter, affecting how much food we can provide to agencies distributing food—agencies also slammed by other cuts,” Ann explained. 

“If ever there was a year for the faith community and general community to give generously, this is the year.  The community needs to help us put food on people’s tables here, too,” she said.

Regional needs are up a little for 2005—not the double digits of two years ago but there have been no reductions in numbers.

“Those struggling in poverty are unable to move out of it,” she said.  “There are more seniors and disabled people, as well as families with children.”

Cuts in food stamps and the commodities program managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture—the nation’s largest hunger relief program—would create more need.

“Already food stamps and commodities do not supply enough so people do not need a supplemental bag of food from food banks and agencies we serve,” she said.

Added to that are the impact of the prices of gas, heating fuel, health care and housing.  Some days, seasons and years, it does not grow easier,” Ann said, “but we keep doing our work because some days, seasons and years, there is light.”

With the help of its food industry partners—growers, wholesalers, manufacturers, brokers and retailers—Second Harvest has received 5,002,957 pounds of food since July 1, an increase of 1.4 percent.

While near the 2005 goal of more than 16 million pounds, the level of need has risen dramatically because of hurricane relief, rising fuel costs and challenges in the food industry.

For information, call 534-6678.

Truth Ministries finds miracles overcome obstacles

Facing a struggle to find funding and space to house homeless people who might be left out of other shelters, Julie McKinney, co-director of Truth Ministries with her husband, Marty, said they have relied on miracles.

Since August, the outreach of Mending Fences Fellowship offered food and shelter at the former Playfair site in East Spokane.  That closed Nov. 15.  They expect to move into a permanent shelter on Dec. 17 in a 14,000-square-foot former supermarket at 1910 E. Sprague.

“Despite no funding, the miracle is that when we have a need, it is met.  We needed a sprinkler system to qualify with the fire marshal,” said Julie.

A sprinkler company is providing a $30,000 system and a union is providing $15,000 to pipe water into the system, she said.

Truth Ministries has served about 50 people.  Those in the shelter may not have drugs, alcohol or weapons.

The McKinneys started Truth Ministries in July 2003, serving sandwiches at their church, which was then in the Spokane Valley.  They moved in and out of several valley and downtown locations before going to Playfair.  Now they own their own building and serve a new neighborhood.

For information, call 456-2576.

Mental health cuts crimp counseling services

Federal and state Medicaid cuts translate into $87,000 a month less to Lutheran Community Services for counseling and mental health services, said Adam Shipman, development director.

“Our reduction of Spokane staff by 29 percent crimps our ability to deliver services.  We pay for those cuts somewhere else in the system,” he said.

In addition to cuts in professional staff, cuts in support staff mean therapists must absorb more tasks, adding to their workload.

“Our clients are children experiencing a life-altering trauma, usually related to sexual abuse,” Adam said. 

“The victims’ rights response team director said there is a dramatic increase in people calling the 24-hour crisis line and visiting hospital emergency rooms. People whose mental health needs are not met may act out in the community,” he pointed out.

Passage of the mental health tax proposition does not restore the $87,000 loss, and those funds will not be available until July 1.

“Congress in debating $50 billion more in cuts to Medicaid programs for the poor and disabled.  So we are turning from depending on government funds to individuals, fund raising and other sources,” Adam said. 

For information, call 747-8224.

By Mary Stamp, The Fig Tree - Copyright © December 2005