Charities seeing increase in demand

By JUSTIN HARMON/Staff

The kindness of strangers. It’s standard business practice for charities. When the economy flips upside down, the kindness that used to translate to cash doesn’t always.
United Way of Abingdon Executive Director Travis Station said the pool of donors is shrinking, at least in the industry sector. Compared to last year, Staton said the United Way is ahead, en route to its $850,000 goal; however, news of layoffs isn’t good. It makes the list of potential donors a little shorter.
“There just aren’t as many to ask this year,” he said.
Around 25 percent of United Way’s donations come from the industrial sector, according to Staton. The layoffs create another problem with personal donations.
“If they’re laid off, we could still contact them but are you going to give if you don’t have a job?” he said.
According to Staton, this problem isn’t just hitting Abingdon. Bristol and Johnson City United Ways are seeing the same thing.
The support is slightly waning, Staton said, while demand has skyrocketed.
The United Way supports other charities in the county.
Ecumenical Faith in Action Director Kathi Lowe said in a normal month, the organization might see around 650 families seeking assistance with heating bills or shopping at the food pantry. That number has jumped to 800 in recent months.
The donations haven’t slacked, she said, but still folks are being turned away from time to time, particularly those looking for help with utilities.  Faith in Action, she said, runs out of money to help around the second day of every month.
There are a lot of new facing using the services, too, she said.
“I’m noticing a lot of folks are people that are working but just can’t make ends meet,” she said.
As donations fluctuate, some are even seeing a threat to government funding.
People Incorporated of Southwest Virginia President Rob Goldsmith said a majority of its funding comes from federal and state governments. It’s money that may be up in the air.
Goldsmith said a state legislator warned him to be prepared for budget cuts in the upcoming sessions.
“Until it happens, we really won’t know,” he said.
Goldsmith said that he doesn’t expect to stop proving any of the 35 services that include day care, education, housing and job training. On top of possible cuts from the government, Goldsmith said People Inc. gets substantial funding from the United Way, so any hard times there would cut into People Inc.’s coffers.
“(Staton) is working hard to meet their goals,” he said. “We’ve got our fingers crossed that they’ll be successful.”
Staton said that he isn’t sure that the economy will turn around by next year or that the country has hit its low point yet, but he said they’ll remain positive.
“We just need a little bit more help,” he said.
“We’re just counting on people to want to help,” Lowe said. “That’s all we can do.”
Justin Harmon can be reached at 628-7101 or