Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
November 28, 2001
Local charities needs greater after Sept. 11 attacks
Economic slowdown, donations to N.Y. hurt local charities
By Alwen Bledsoe
For many charities holiday giving is the lifeline that keeps them running the rest of the year, but this season many are reeling from the economy's downturn. Also, because of the Sept. 11 attacks, many who normally give to local charities are, understandably, sending money and donations to New York this year.
Judy Megyesy, vice president, resource development, at Catholic Charities, said this is a major concern for the homeless shelter Samaritan House of Catholic Charities.
"We just hope people are going to step up," she said. "Where it's really hitting is our emergency assistance centers. People tend to go there first for help with rent or food, utilities, prescriptions."
Even before Sept. 11 the centers had experienced a 35 to 40 percent increase in those using their services, she said. As the economy worsens, Megyesy continued, Catholic Charities is concerned about a "trickle down effect," and not the good kind.
"A lot of people still can't make it and then they end up homeless, then Samaritan House tends to come into play," explained Megyesy. "We were seeing an increase before the 11th and we are very nervous about the declining economy. We are very apprehensive. We have a lot more people asking for help."
Catholic Charities delayed its yearly direct mail campaign by a month because of the attacks Sept. 11, but even so preliminary results seem low, Megyesy added.
Among the homeless shelter's needs this season are new clothing, new toys for Christmas gifts and, of course, money, said Shirley Meininger, executive secretary at Samaritan House. Megyesy said that other items the shelter always needs are personal toilet items, toothpaste and toothbrushes, diapers, soap, feminine hygiene products, new white underwear in all sizes, socks, and non-perishable food items.
David Van Overwalle, prison volunteer coordinator for the Archdiocese of Denver also works for a non-denominational Christian prison ministry called Friends in Transition. Friends in Transition and its youth program, Youth in Probation, will each be $75,000 under what they need to meet their budgets, he said. That is partly due to the Sept. 11 attacks and partly because January, February and March usually bring in almost no charitable giving, said Van Overwalle.
"Prison ministry is always under-funded," Van Overwalle said.
And in money-lean years it's even worse.
"We're feeling the bite of the economy," he added. "Without a doubt it's been harder to find money."
Van Overwalle recommended Angel Tree as a worthwhile way to give to inmates this Christmas. Participants buy gifts for inmates' children to ensure that the families of those in prison are not forgotten.
Sacred Heart House of Denver, a shelter for women with children and single women, helps women become self-sufficient through an in-house program and a transitional housing program, said Executive Director Janet Morris. So far the program hasn't experienced a drop in giving, she said, adding that it receives about 50 percent of its funding from foundations and much of the rest from long-term givers.
"We're hoping that rather than a negative impact it will have sensitized people to the needs of others," said Morris of the Sept. 11 attacks. "We have early indications that this is true, but no real proof."
Nonetheless, the program has many needs this holiday season. Through its adopt-a-family program, community members buy Christmas gifts for the 135 families in transitional housing and the six families and three women in its shelter, said Carrie Phillips, a case manager at Sacred Heart House. Around 60-65 families in transitional housing still need to be adopted, she said.
"They're still in that fragile state having just exited homelessness," Phillips said, explaining that most can't afford gifts for their children.
The shelter also always needs volunteers to cook and serve dinner to the families in the shelter and seeks donations including hygiene items such as bar soap, razors, and feminine hygiene products as well as laundry detergent and warm clothing, Phillips said.
As volunteering and giving tend to drop off after the holidays, Phillips said that a "Christmas in July" drive at churches or agreeing to volunteer during off-peak hours is a big boost for the shelter.
Marycrest Resource Center, run out of Marycrest Convent, also relies heavily on the holiday season to stock-up on donations. One of its biggest needs, said Development Director Mary Jo Gowin, is people's time. The food bank especially becomes very busy during the holidays, she said.
Gowin said that among other things, the center runs homeless shelters, a food bank, a retreat center and works with immigrants from Mexico and with Native Americans in South Dakota.
"Our needs are always high and unfortunately the sisters have paid for a lot of stuff from their own money," said Gowin.
Along with giving time, families could choose to give gifts to families in need rather than to each other, she suggested. People can always call to find out how they are needed, she added.
The effects of Sept. 11 on the resource center won't be known until early 2002, said Gowin.
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