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Feeling the pinch
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| H&N photo by Todd E. Swenson Suzanne Burgeson, 34, rings a bell encouraging shoppers Tuesday at Albertsons to donate to The Salvation Army. |
Local charities getting fewer donations this holiday season
By LAURA McVICKER
H&N Staff Writer
Klamath Basin residents aren’t giving as much to charities this holiday season, officials say. ¶ The Salvation Army’s bell ringers say less money is being put into their kettles. The Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program doesn’t have enough toys for children in need. And the Klamath Falls Gospel Mission isn’t getting as much food and money as it did in years past. ¶ “I don’t think it’s as much as last year,” said Debi Leighton, Salvation Army service center coordinator. “Toys are coming in. Hopefully we’ll get more. … A lot of people are struggling this year.”
Charity organizers say they don’t know why donations are declining, but believe a local recession is part of the reason. The housing market is slowing and over the past few years, some businesses have laid off workers.
Others say it’s not local donors who are giving less.
Niki Sampson, director of the Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank, said it’s the market that caused her food shortage.
The USDA gave the food bank 28 percent less -- about 200,000 pounds -- commodity foods this year. The reason behind the shortage is that farmers are getting their market price, Sampson said.
Since publicizing her food shortage in recent months, Sampson said more Basin residents are donating food, offsetting the shortage.
“Locally, this community is so awesome,” she said.
Toys for Tots organizers say they’ve received 1,000 board games, 50 tricycles and 100 quilts. But still, it isn’t enough to help families with children ranging from newborn babies to teenagers.
The Salvation Army’s giving trees are getting less attention as well, Leighton said. And money put in the red kettles is used to help purchase Christmas food boxes for families in need.
At the local chapter of the American Red Cross, director Starla Staal-Bishop reported a steady rate of giving compared to past years.
Leroy Cabral, director of the United Way of the Klamath Basin, said the organization reached 77 percent of their goal this year of $900,000.
Charity organizers say they don’t know why donations are declining, but believe a local recession is part of the reason. The housing market is slowing and over the past few years, some businesses have laid off workers.
Others say it’s not local donors who are giving less.
Niki Sampson, director of the Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank, said it’s the market that caused her food shortage.
The USDA gave the food bank 28 percent less -- about 200,000 pounds -- commodity foods this year. The reason behind the shortage is that farmers are getting their market price, Sampson said.
Since publicizing her food shortage in recent months, Sampson said more Basin residents are donating food, offsetting the shortage.
“Locally, this community is so awesome,” she said.
Toys for Tots organizers say they’ve received 1,000 board games, 50 tricycles and 100 quilts. But still, it isn’t enough to help families with children ranging from newborn babies to teenagers.
The Salvation Army’s giving trees are getting less attention as well, Leighton said. And money put in the red kettles is used to help purchase Christmas food boxes for families in need.
At the local chapter of the American Red Cross, director Starla Staal-Bishop reported a steady rate of giving compared to past years.
Leroy Cabral, director of the United Way of the Klamath Basin, said the organization reached 77 percent of their goal this year of $900,000.
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