Local charities are gearing up for the holiday season, despite concerns about the nation's fluctuating economy.
During the holiday season, Cristo Rey Community Center, 1717 N. High St. in Lansing, provides a Thanksgiving meal for people in need as well as Thanksgiving baskets. Both services are coordinated through other organizations, including the local Salvation Army and Red Cross.
But this year, resources have been limited because of a 7.4 percent state unemployment rate and a $920 million state budget shortfall. Due to the cuts, employees and volunteers have had their hours cut, Cristo Rey Executive Director John Roy Castillo said.
"We're trying to do more with less, basically as everyone else is," he said.
Castillo said he doesn't believe that the economy will have an impact on donations this holiday season, but it's always a possibility.
Throughout the year, Cristo Rey provides more than 31 services to help people in the community, including food, prescriptions and a community kitchen, Castillo said. About 20,000 individuals benefit from the center each year.
The Greater Lansing Food Bank also is preparing for the holidays, kicking off its annual 10-week holiday envelope drive Thursday. For the campaign, envelopes are placed within newspapers to encourage people to donate to the organization, Executive Director Sharon Krinock said.
Krinock said the food bank hopes to meet its goal of $650,000 for the holiday season, which would feed an average 1,500 families, or 4,400 individuals, a month.
"The community has been very supportive of the food bank, and we are pretty confident there will be a support again this year, because the need is there," Krinock said.
"Our numbers are going up, not by leaps and bounds, but still going up."
Sam Singh, president and CEO of the Michigan Nonprofit Association, said the economy already has a strong effect on charities, as individual giving dropped 10 percent in 2002.
"We're anticipating that type of level of decrease to occur during 2003," he said. "That is coupled with state and federal grants being cut. Foundations and corporations have been reducing donations, because they have had poor market returns."
A fluctuating economy and unstable jobs can result in less donations, Singh said.
"During these times of down economy, the need for charities is even greater," he said. "It's like a catch 22. When times are more difficult, they are more reluctant to give."
