FAITH: Religious charities see surge in demand, drop in donations

By BETHANY LEACH - For the North County Times | Saturday, November 1, 2008 6:37 PM PDT ∞

The combination of an increased demand for services and a decreased ability of people to donate has left faith-affiliated charities around the county trying to stretch their resources.

"It's an uneven teeter-totter," said Christine Vaughan, public relations and special events coordinator for Interfaith Community Services, based in Escondido. "And because of the population that we serve, the people that are most affected by the economy are coming to our doors."

Interfaith is an umbrella organization that partners with 450 faith communities to run 13 programs throughout North County. It provides resources such as emergency food and help with utility bills to people in crisis.

The organization served more than 28,000 people last year, but the struggling economy caused a sharp increase in demand for services. Between August 2007 and August 2008, there was a 68 percent increase in first-time families served, according to Greg Anglea, director of development.

The new families are ones who are struggling to pay a mortgage but who also make too much money to qualify for food stamps, said Anglea. They're the ones who have never needed help in the past.

To add to the imbalance, private funding makes up 46 percent of Interfaith's $10 million budget, so "when people with the ability to give don't give, it affects us significantly," Anglea said. "It stretches our limited resources further."

"It kinda hurts," said "Father Joe" Carroll, the Roman Catholic priest who heads the St. Vincent de Paul Village in downtown San Diego, a homeless shelter that helps between 2,500 and 2,700 people per day. "We're used to turning away individuals. We have no more room, and now families have to stay on the streets. We keep turning away kids."

Carroll said that decreases in donations of cash, cars, clothing and furniture lead directly to cuts in programs. For St. Vincent de Paul, the tough economy has meant not only having to turn away families, but also laying off 50 staff members and cutting 20 programs, and Carroll expects to cut more next year.

In difficult economic times, people can easily forget that organizations that rely on private funding to function, such as social services and emergency charities, are also affected.

Catholic Charities, which runs 35 different programs throughout the county to help local residents who are struggling financially, has also seen a "huge surge" in demand for emergency and clinical services, specifically free counseling for anxiety, said program director Caroline Geiger.

In the organization's Vista location, Geiger said there has been a 45 percent increase in households served with emergency services between July and October, as well as a 30 percent increase in case management services, which includes help with rent, mortgage and water and electricity bills.

"We're seeing folks we don't normally see," said Geiger. "We've always seen the poor, but now we see people who are middle-class. They had been on the brink and barely making it, and now they are the poor."

Catholic Charities has seen a drop in financial donations, in addition to a drop in volunteers because of gas prices. The organization continues to function, but its managers don't see the situation improving. Geiger said that by leveraging resources, such as using food stamps, they're hoping that they can serve more people, despite the lowered donations.

Jill Spitzer, CEO of Jewish Family Services of San Diego, describes the economy's effect on the organization as "a perfect storm." Jewish Family Services, which served more than 30,000 people last year, gets more calls for help every day, yet it's a challenging time to do fundraising, she said.

Of the organization's $12 million budget, 25 percent comes from private donors, but because people are experiencing such uncertainty in their financial security, they aren't donating, said chief operating officer Alan Zamosky.

Despite the decreased funding, Jewish Family Services hopes to maintain or even increase services.

"We just have to be responsible and keep our budget in line," Spitzer said. "We're doing our best to keep up and will continue to do as much as we can to help people in need."

And for the dip in the economy to hit right before the peak fundraising season for many charitable organizations ---- the holidays ---- means that more cuts are likely in 2009.

"We're kind of like Neiman Marcus," Carroll said. "We survive the rest of the year, but we make our money at Christmas."

Sixty percent of the St. Vincent de Paul Village's annual budget is raised between now and Christmas, "because that's when people think of us," he said.

Carroll said that St. Vincent de Paul's managers are split between the "optimistic" group, who are developing new approaches to fundraising, and the "realistic" group, who are deciding which programs go first if they are to cut the budget another 10 percent to 20 percent next year.

"Everybody's hesitant," Carroll said, "even those who are not directly affected by the economy. But they're the ones who need to give extra to make up for those who are hurting."

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Pre-Registration Comments[-]Go to Top

dont whine to me wrote on Nov 1, 2008 7:09 PM:but yet these same zealots can pour one million dollars into prop 8, a prop inspired by hatred.

Mike S. qu wrote on Nov 1, 2008 7:49 PM:Now, if those $1,000,000+ donations to "Yes on 8" had gone to these charities instead, think of what could be done....

Richard wrote on Nov 1, 2008 10:25 PM:I used to give money to religious charites for food banks, christmas presents for the needy and homeless services but these same church groups have donated millions to add discrimination to the state constitution. I will not be contributing any more money to religious charities.

right Mike wrote on Nov 1, 2008 10:59 PM:you took the words right outta my head! What an inbalance ....

Plastic signs wrote on Nov 1, 2008 11:37 PM:What if all the $ spent on the candidates' plastic signs also had gone to charity? In our county alone, that would've made the winter a lot better for so many people and the environment.

jvc wrote on Nov 2, 2008 12:58 AM:No more politics from the pulpit!
POLI-TICS!

bogus wrote on Nov 2, 2008 7:26 AM:The whiners here are chiding organizations that give far more to charity than all other groups combined? Because you do not agree with their position on one proposition, pathetic, simply pathetic. Just think where the millions of people these churches have helped would be without them.

Alf wrote on Nov 2, 2008 8:02 AM:The posts from "dont whine to me", "Mike S. qu", "Richard", "right Mike", "Plastic signs" and "jvc" all echo my sentiments.
The opinion piece today by Scott Harris presents my one of my biggest objections to Prop. 8.
Do not discriminate -
Vote NO on Prop. 8.
Regards, Alf.

Bahhhh wrote on Nov 2, 2008 8:22 AM:Religion is for sheep. Google Pat Robertson Blood diamonds

off the grid wrote on Nov 2, 2008 9:24 AM:I dig some of what these places do, but why pay someone's electricity bill? Let them turn off the television and conserve electricity.

If the would wrote on Nov 2, 2008 11:25 AM:use their money helping people instead of wasting it on Proposition 8 they could help more people.

Dont live there anymore wrote on Nov 2, 2008 11:45 AM:interesting point Off the Grid. Do people who have their utility bills subsidized in anyway, either through charity or through the special programs the utility compankies have for "low income" households--do they have any obligation to reduce their utility consumption? Or if someone else is footing the bill, do they feel entitled (and are they entitled) to leave all the lights on all the time, crank up the heat and AC, etc?
I know I'm constantly turing off lights, wearing sweaters instead of turning on the heat, opening the windows and drinking ice water instead of turning on the AC, etc....but then again, I pay my own bills.

Phil wrote on Nov 2, 2008 3:55 PM:And only if the one million dollars plus spent by the teachers unions would have gone to fix schools and pay teachers.. You Faithphobe hypocrits out there only seem to think you have the only opinion that counts. This is an article about helping people who are less fortunate and you want to make another feeble attempt to demonize a group of people who have different views then yourselves. This article has nothing to do with prop 8.

Rick wrote on Nov 2, 2008 7:01 PM:I am not giving money anymore to these religious organizations since I fear they will use it for political and not for people who need it most. No matter what side you take on prop 8 it is sad that churches on both side have taken money to fight a hate prop when they could do so much to help the needy.

To Phil wrote on Nov 2, 2008 7:17 PM:I've donated a lot to charity over the years and have/would never donate to a church who has the ability to discriminate over who receives their assistance.

I agree that this article has nothing to do with Prop 8, but it does example how they would use the money I give and I prefer to give to charities who help people solely based on need instead of complicating that need with the recipients personal beliefs and whether or not those beliefs meld with the charity's.

jvc wrote on Nov 3, 2008 6:34 AM:Let us do the humane thing by providing
food vouchers at local markets to help the needy!No more canned goods to the poor, we are better than that!

I quit donating to these wrote on Nov 3, 2008 6:41 AM:organizations. Most of the people who request help and stand in line for their food are the same people who go from St. Vincents to the next foodbank to the next. Most do not speak English and I am pretty sure they are not in our country legally. I was at St. Marys and they were registering people to vote. NEITHER of them spoke English. HELLO?????

I agree Reverneds and Priest wrote on Nov 3, 2008 8:56 AM:NEED TO STAY OUT OF POLITICS! THE MINISTERS NEED TO STOP RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND BUILDING BIG HOMES FOR THEMSLEVES! WHY DOES REV JEREMIAH WRIGHT NEED TO HAVE A MANSION IN A AFLUENT MOSTLY WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD! ESPECIALLY, HE CALLS THEM "WHITEY!" NO MORE DONATIONS FOR THE DRUG ADDICTS AND LOOSERS WHO VOTE IN THESE FOOLS INTO OFFICE, AND PAY OFF THE CLERGY!

THE REAL AMERICAN IS BEING DEMONIZED wrote on Nov 3, 2008 8:58 AM:BY THESE CHURCHES! THEY BRING IN THIRD WORLD NATION PEOPLE WHO DRAIN RESOURCES THAT ARE BEST SERVED ON AMERICANS! IF YOU SAY ANYTHING AGAIST IT, YOU ARE A RACIST! YOU ARE A DEMON! THANKS REV WRIGHT!

America is divided more than ever wrote on Nov 3, 2008 9:00 AM:Religious wise and culturally! We will seethe divide on Nov 4th. Those who workand those who do not!

I have a question wrote on Nov 3, 2008 9:06 AM:What would Jesus do? Would he demonize the Gays? Would he look at Gays as any less a person of value or with a soul? No Jesus would reach out to these people! I personally do not understand what it is to be a gay person. I do understand what it means to be an American after 20 plus years serving this country in militray uniform! Gays are Americans! Gays deserve the same freedoms! Many churches are supporting and concerning themselves with political actions and instead of preaching compassion and out working to build a bigger and better church building. Reminder folks (Little Sheep) The church is not a structure it is a body or group of people who serve the lord! So until the churches start cleaning up the corruption in thier own house, I will reach out to those on my own! Without a politocal message attahced to it!

Paco wrote on Nov 3, 2008 9:15 AM:I find it funny that there are many people who dislike religion interfering in their lives are some of the ones who run to the churches for help. You can disagree with money being spent on Prop 8 proponents, but the fact remains these are donations made by private citizens to support something they believe in. Much the same as those who are opponents of the bill. People should just respect differing views. I could care less whether you vote for or against Prop 8, or for any issue on that matter. Keep it to yourself.
To the 7:17 poster, don't you understand that you can never control where your money will ever go. To make a statement that you won't give money to a church that "discriminate" is much the same as saying "I don't pay taxes because I don't believe in paying for the war in Iraq". You can never completely be assured of where any money ever goes.

Paco wrote on Nov 3, 2008 9:18 AM:jvc, and where would the money for these food vouchers come from? Oh, that's right. From churches that discriminate. I've been poor before and I didn't care whether the food was canned or not. If that's the case, maybe we should line up all the hungry and feed them the leftover food from Olive Garden or some such restaurant? Or better yet, let's line them all up at the houses and offices of politicians who are all for wealth redistribution. That wouldn't work though because they are talking about everyone else but themselves.

Thou shalt not trust a church wrote on Nov 3, 2008 10:01 AM:Religion was created to control the weak minded. Thou shall not kill, steal, Rape or assault These are all just common sense laws that society should & must adhere to. If you`re going to donate to charity donate directly to organizations that you know will help your intended target Churches cannot be trusted.

Paco wrote on Nov 3, 2008 11:06 AM:To 10:01 poster, if those are common sense, why do we have laws preventing it. People would automatically have common sense enough to not commit the crimes. As for religion being created for the weak minded, there are some weak who look for strength where there is some. There are also predators who use religion to prey on the weak. Your statement is ignorant in the sense that most people who deny religion will turn to it in their time of need. When all else fails, people look for hope anywhere they can find it.

As for donating to charity, you're right that people should donate where their help is targeted, but churces do target those in need. Homeless, abused and poverty stricken are helped. Can you say the same thing about many organizations out there?

To Paco wrote on Nov 3, 2008 12:41 PM:You're right ... you can never know 100% where your money goes. You can, however, get a good indication by viewing a collection of the charity's public actions.

I don't like the church interfering in my life so not only do I not donate to them, I do not seek their assistance.

Quite frankly, my 'faith' in charities these days is pretty low. 9 times out of 10 I'd rather just go put money in the hands of a homeless person myself. That way, at least I know who's getting it.

Re Paco wrote on Nov 3, 2008 1:45 PM:Common sense meaning we don`t need a bible or preacher telling us not to do these things. If it weren`t for religion we would execute murderers child molestors & rapists. But no we forgive them so they can do it again. Paco I would guess you are a Christian Why? because you were born into it. If you were born in India you`d be a Hindu. Do you understand what I`m saying? I actually look at things from a scientific point of view. Does God exist ? Who knows? Rather than giving money to help those who are malnourished or abused you would give it to prop 8 ??? Paco, do you buy fancy things you don`t need ?

Paco wrote on Nov 3, 2008 2:48 PM:1:45 poster, you're right that we don't need a bible or preacher to tell us these things. However, it's these basic premises, whether it's the bible or quran, that may not have originated from religion, but have been stressed throughout history from a theological standpoint. You can take the majority of the religions and compare and contrast them and they state many of the same things.

You misunderstand the concept about forgiveness. I can only give forgiveness to those who have done harm to me. I can't give forgiveness to those who committed a crime that didn't affect me. It is for those victims to give their own forgivness. And it is up to God to give forgiveness provided that the criminal repents and asks for forgivness. But my intent is not to get into a drawn out religous discussion. The Bible also states "an eye for an eye", but religion isn't the reason we don't execute anyone. It's the many checks and balances in the judicial system.

As for your last comment, I do buy fancy things I don't need. I call it my own version of wealth redistribution. I don't give to political campaigns because it's my vote that will have an impact, not my money.

Re Paco wrote on Nov 4, 2008 9:04 AM:Murderers Rapists & Molesters are sociopaths They have no place in society & they should be terminated, Not forgiven by our justice system.

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