Increased holiday challenges for charities

2009-12-18 20:28:34 (GMT) (WiredPRNews.com - Money & Finance, News)

Wired PR News reports more charities are facing a drop in donations this holiday season.

An increase in demand for social services has increased challenges for charities this holiday season.

U.S. (WiredPRNews.com) – An increase in demand for charitable social services and a reduction in funding for many charities who provide these has posed new challenges for some this holiday season. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), two recent surveys have outlined the extent of the problem. Charity advisor The Bridgespan Group of Boston reportedly found that 80 percent of its latest survey respondents are dealing with a decrease in funding, while Catholic Charities has reported 72 percent of its national network agencies have resorted to cutting costs for operations.

Rebecca Brislain with the Florida Association of Food Banks is quoted by the AP as stating of the changes, “A lot of people are accessing food banks for the first time and don’t know how to navigate the system… Just a few months ago they were living the American dream.”

Shelby County Salvation Army program coordinator Linda Wyngarden is further quoted in the report as stating of experiencing a drop in donations, “It’s because of the recession… It may be that people had jobs lost and just can’t give anymore.”

WiredPRNews.com – The latest in Money and Finance News