Nonprofit groups cope with drop in donations Posted On: Sunday, Oct. 18 2009 05:36 AM By Matt Goodman
Killeen Daily Herald

As the sun slowly sets in the horizon of the economic recession, Central Texas nonprofit groups are scrutinizing their finances as public donations dwindle.

"We didn't feel it for about six months," said Ann Farris, co-director of the Killeen Food Care Center. "I think that meant people went on doing what they were doing until they saw they had no choice."

This delayed reaction is causing nonprofits in the area to cut costs to stay afloat.

For some, such as the Hope Pregnancy Centers in Killeen, Copperas Cove and Temple, this can mean just monitoring the use of office supplies and how much mail is sent out. But for others, such as the Killeen Food Care Center, it means not as many people are getting the same amount of food.

The Food Care Center is down 40,000 pounds of food compared to 2008 but has had 2,000 additional families request help. It used to provide 30 meals – about 10 days' worth – but now it hopes to provide 23.

"There is an increase in need and a decrease in available resources," Farris said.

"This is really the first time we've had this kind of a trend."

Peaceable Kingdom Retreat

Peaceable Kingdom Retreat in Killeen, a 170-acre camp for children with special needs on Farm-to-Market 2484, is down about 35 percent in donations, executive director Scott Simmonds said.

Facing the shortfall, the camp was "blessed" to have some of its employees find other jobs and still be able to volunteer or work part-time instead, thus saving the camp money, Simmonds said.

"I think people are holding on to their money and living more cautiously now," he said.

People still able to donate continue to give, but

the amount has dropped some.

United Way

The United Way, which accepts donations and then spreads the money around to 24 nonprofit groups between Nolanville and Copperas Cove, just missed its donation goal last year.

The United Way is seeing a glimmer of hope. It had its annual kickoff event in early September. The organization receives donations from large companies or businesses, which can then dictate when the United Way can distribute the money.

The kickoff in September marked the beginning of the new campaign period and the organization has access to almost double the amount it did at the start of 2008; there was $88,000 at last year's kickoff and $160,000 this year.

"It's like running half a marathon," executive director Aaron Montemayor said. "You might have a good time split at that point, but unless you finish strong, it's all for nothing."

Last year the United Way closed with $629,000, about $30,000 short of its goal. This year, it hopes to hit $650,000, and the amount it brought in at the kickoff is encouraging to officials.

"All things considered, with the economy crashing and the

stock market crashing while we were running our campaign, it could've been a lot worse," Montemayor said.

Getting creative

Peaceable Kingdom is thinking creatively to add services so it can qualify for more government grants. By adding more military-centered programs, it was able to qualify for federal appropriation funds, which Simmonds expects President Barack Obama to approve in the next four weeks.

The retreat is planning to add a physical therapist and a physical therapy program to benefit the children, as well as garner support from local insurance, hospital and private agencies.

"This is all money that we haven't been able to get before," he said.

Though the Killeen Food Care Center has had fewer food donations, it has had more community support than before.

Farris said companies she was unfamiliar with have called her to say they are sponsoring a food drive. A local dance agency is holding a dance and tickets cost one can of food. One-time monetary donations are increasing, meaning Farris and the staff has to hit the grocery stores, but it's still enough to keep the center serving the public.

"What I see here, people sense a problem and they respond to the problem," she said. "Whether that's war, fire, flood or an economic recession, people here show up."

Contact Matt Goodman at mgoodman@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7550.