The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

Money isn't coming in for local charities

Local charities and the community programs they support are hoping the gift- giving season will spur last minute donations after yearlong fund-raising efforts have fallen flat.

In Carbondale, the United Way has only raised 65 percent of its goal of $115,000 and the Southern Illinois Salvation Army is $95,000 short of its regional goal of $215,000.

"It's been an unusual year," said Cheri Fitts, executive director of United Way of Southern Illinois in Marion. "We are reaching goals where we haven't before, but in areas where we are usually successful, like Carbondale, the funds simply aren't coming in."

Fitts said with only three weeks left in the year, she is skeptical that the needed money will be raised, which she said translates into funding cuts for organizations the United Way supports, such as the Adolescent Health Clinic, Carbondale Junior Sports, Meals on Wheels and the Women's Center.

Virginia Donney, program director of the Adolescent Health Clinic, which provides medical and social services to patients 25 and younger, said that might mean eliminating a position or raising the cost of care.

Randy Osborn, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club in Carbondale, which is looking at teaming up with the United Way next year, said bad news for the charity is bad news for the community.

"We are all on the same side when it comes to fundraising." Osborn said. "I hope that the community will look at their priorities and determine that the kids are worth it."

While Fitts remains skeptical, Jose Tamayo, Southern Illinois area coordinator for the Salvation Army in Marion, is optimistic. He believes that "once the word gets out, the community will come through for us."

Tamayo said the Salvation Army has been hit hard by the nation-wide solicitation ban Target put in place this year. Tamayo said the Marion Target alone brought in about $7,000 a year in kettle donations.

" Right now, we are $20,000 behind last year at this same time," Tamayo said. "The worst part about it is that it's not the local merchants' fault, they are just enforcing what corporate office says needs to be the policy. People just need to dig a little deeper."

Donations provide holiday food baskets, presents for children and seniors in long-term care facilities, and pay rent and utilities for those in need.

In addition to donating at bell-ringing locations across town, Tamayo said people could donate online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or volunteer to ring at any of 33 locations across the region.

The United Way accepts one-time donations, or small businesses can help raise funds. Additionally, Fitts said University employees can give monthly via payroll deduction.

Donations to both organizations are tax-deductible.

"Everybody just giving a little is how a majority of these programs stay afloat," Pitts said.

Factoid: To contact United Way of Southern Illinois, call (618) 997-7744. To contact The Salvation Army, call (618) 993-5854.

 

 

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