The United Way has seen several of its large donors turn into clients now in need of the group’s charitable services.

The umbrella nonprofit that serves smaller organizations has to respond to a higher demand for services, despite a 7 percent budget cut this year, said Frank Lazarski, president of the United Way of Central New York.

Syracuse’s branch of the Salvation Army has seen a spike in the need for emergency services in the last year. Those who have lost employment because of the recession have come in droves to the Salvation Army’s food pantries and emergency family shelter. Twelve beds were added to the shelter Monday night to meet the need.

‘We have been at as much as a 150 percent capacity in the shelter many times for the last year,’ said Nancy Kronen, the organization’s director of development.

Because of the recession, the Salvation Army, like many other nonprofits, has seen a drop in both government grants and private donations, which means volunteers are more critical than ever, Kronen said.

Students, faculty and staff from Syracuse University will provide nonprofits across the city, like the Salvation Army, with much needed volunteer work during ‘The Big Event,’ sponsored by OrangeSeeds, SU’s freshman leadership program. This year’s annual day of volunteer work, scheduled for April 18, is the largest it has ever been, with 426 open volunteer spots and 26 nonprofit organizations getting help, its executive directors said.

SU volunteers will be working on four projects for the Salvation Army, including cleaning their kitchen and painting day care centers, Kronen said.

‘We don’t have the money. We have to make sure that we continue to fund direct client services,’ she said. ‘So, it makes volunteers all the more important because through volunteers, we’ll be able to get it all done.’

Despite needing to help more than their usual 30,000 people, the Salvation Army was forced to cut its annual budget from $14 million to $13 million due to a loss of government grants and a drop in funding from the local chapter of the United Way, Kronen said.

The United Way of Central New York will fall approximately $600,000 short of its $9.1 million goal for its annual Community Campaign, ending at about $8.5 million, Lazarski said.

During the campaign, local employees, including those at SU, give an annual donation through payroll deduction to the United Way. Employers often give a matching gift, Lazarski said. Through the campaign, the United Way usually donates $5 million to 103 programs run by 39 different nonprofit organizations. But starting July 1, as a result of decreased funds of the campaign, there will be approximately a 7 percent, or $350,000, cut in the amount of money the United Way gives out.

‘We’ve got to make sure that people are cared for with the basics: food, shelter and clothing,’ he said. ‘Especially with food and shelter, we in this community are trying to make sure that there are no people going hungry, that the food pantries are well stocked and well positioned to handle people who now are coming in, who two years ago or 18 months ago may have been the people giving them the money to buy the food.’

Lucy Miller, co-chair of SU’s recent Relay for Life event, said she has seen students become more creative in their fundraising strategies because of the economy.

‘Some people are aware that charitable donations will help them in this economy,’ said Miller, a senior television, radio and film major. ‘People didn’t necessarily just ask family members for donations; they held other types of fundraisers.’

One example of this fundraising creativity Miller gave was Habitat for Humanity’s ‘Grilled Cheese for Disease,’ when the organization sold grilled cheese sandwiches late at night for two dollars each. It raised more than $200 for Relay.

At last count, Relay raised about $26,000 less than last year. But Miller said the donation window is still open. Last year Relay raised approximately $155,000. At the end of this year’s Relay, $129,000 had been raised. Miller said she does not know exactly how far behind they are currently from last year’s total because the American Cancer Society has not sent her a recent update.

‘The American Cancer Society has been around so long and it’s so reputable, that this year might not be surpassing other years, but they’re still doing well,’ Miller said. ‘And for a one night event to bring in over $100,000 in this economy is absolutely nothing to sneeze at.’

Some organizations, like the First English Lutheran Church, which will also take advantage of the Big Event volunteers, have seen an increase in donations since the recession struck. But the church has also seen its endowment shrink by about 50 percent, said Pastor Craig Herrick. Herrick said the church typically makes 80,000 meals a year out of its food pantry, but now it has less food. He said the church has been dipping into its endowment to buy more from the food bank.

‘We’re running out of money,’ Herrick said. ‘Bless their hearts, the giving of our people is still up and current. But I can’t run this operation on just the giving of our people, as generous as that is.’

Because of these financial difficulties, the church relies on volunteers from the Big Event for work like painting and cleaning.

‘We’d be happy with two Big Events,’ Herrick joked. ‘Or more.’

rhkheel@syr.edu

Published on April 7, 2009 at 12:00 pm