Economy affects charitable donations

By Keith Purtell
Phoenix Staff Writer

November 30, 2008 10:57 pm

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Local charities say they are feeling the effects of the nation’s sour economy in different ways.
Sally Weiesnbach, director of operations at the Ark of Faith Foundation, said at first she didn’t think Oklahoma would be affected. She has changed her mind.
“I just looked at our bank account this morning, and I said, ‘Lord that’s the lowest it has been in a couple of years,’” she said. “Our finances are low. I do think it’s a result of the national economy. I’m believing God will move people will help us any way they can.”
Although cash supplies are low, Weiesnbach said her group has received a large donation of beans that helped their food supply, albeit in a lopsided way. The Ark is running low on canned fruit and vegetables.
Other signs that the economy is affecting charitable groups are walking in the door, Weiesnbach said.
“We are getting more people than we have in the past,” she said. “We have more first timers. We have more young people. One example; a woman came in and said, ‘We need everything. My husband and I just took in our seven grandchildren.’ Another young woman came in and said, ‘Both my husband and I both just lost our jobs.’ These are people that are not used to asking for help.”
At Lake Area United Way, Executive Director Debi Busch said they are receiving mixed signals. They are in the process of wrapping up their annual fundraising campaign, and some donors may be trying to compensate for bad news about reduced charitable giving.
“What we’re seeing as far as what we have received so far has not been a downturn,” she said. “But we do think that people who can give seem to be aware of the need to give. Those people that are in the habit of giving are trying to maintain or even boost it a little bit.”
Busch said a few companies the United Way tried to recruit for their annual fundraiser declined without saying why. The effects of the weak economy are usually showing up at individual agencies.
“In talking to the agencies who serve the individual needs, they seem to have gotten very low on some staples, especially those doing the food, clothing and shelter kind of thing,” she said. “We are seeing them hit really hard. And then by the hair of their chinny chin chin something turns around for them. ”
Another indicator of how the economy is placing greater demands on charitable groups is the rising number of referrals, Busch said.
“We get a lot of calls from individuals that we do referrals for,” she said. “We usually refer them to the 211 phone number that is manned in Tulsa but is a United Way-funded effort for referrals. They tell us that the calls have increased tremendously in the last two months.”
As far as the United Way’s budget, Busch said she hopes donating companies and government funding sources will compensate for the anemic economy.
“We’re hearing that a lot of people got cut on their federal grants,” she said. “We’re hearing a lot more about need. But we’re hoping for results as good or better because of the greater need.”
Gospel Rescue Mission Director Jack Murr said he also is seeing people donate more in response to the bad news about the economy and the effect on the needy.
“We feel like we’re going to see an increased number of people coming for the Christmas baskets for food and clothing,” he said. “We picked up 134 sacks of full Thanksgiving meals for families from Bacone College. I think the staff there has done a good job of communicating the need. So, we’ve seen a surge in the giving, but as far as seeing an increase in homeless or those in the community needing assistance, we haven’t seen a great increase yet.”
Murr agreed with Busch that there is a spontaneous rise in giving this year as people look at what the economy is going to do to lower-income families.
“I feel the same way about donors trying to compensate for the rising need,” he said. “As a matter of fact, out of our general fund, we had set up just in case we needed to buy some food for the Christmas baskets, but the precise amount came in from people who had never donated before.”
Murr said this is a pattern of generosity the charitable groups have seen before.
“Typically, donations will increase in a time of possible financial hardship for some reason,” he said. “But only until things are so tough that people just absolutely can’t do it. People’s minds are on the economy and on those who are those who are going to feel the crunch first.”
The long-standing Mission has built a good reputation in the area, Murr said, leading to some protection during rough times.
“We’ve been here for more than 75 years, and there are so many people we have relationships with around the community,” he said. “We are fortunate in that because people are thinking of the Mission at this particular time. Although our situation is as solid as it could be, we’ll probably be looking at ways to cut expenses. But I feel really good about looking down the road as far as the Gospel Rescue Mission is concerned and being able to continue to offer services.”

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