Holiday Fund: Tsunami, Katrina stress donors; local needy fall behind Holiday Fund: Tsunami, Katrina stress donors; local needy fall behind (December 21, 2005)

By Marion Softky

Almanac Staff Writer

Such a year for disasters. So many people needing help. Such generosity.

Yet, at home on the Peninsula, local charities are also struggling to help the poor, the sick, the hungry, the desperate in our own community.

"Local charities are really feeling the pinch. Our donations are way down," says Sister Christina Heltsley, director of St. Francis Center, which serves mostly poor Latino families in the North Fair Oaks neighborhoods around Redwood City. "November and December are the bread and butter for a place like this. Needs don't change the year long, but people give in November and December."

St. Francis Center is just one of 10 local charities that will benefit from people donating through the Almanac's Holiday Fund this year. Their gifts are increased by matching funds from the Peninsula Community Foundation and others.

These charities, which have been profiled over the last four weeks, help people with many problems and few resources. More than just helping people with immediate problems -- like homelessness or substance abuse or violence -- they help people, especially children, solve their problems and build their lives.

Many of the organizations have innovative programs that stress collaboration and partnerships with other charities, government agencies and foundations.

The Ravenswood Family Health Center is coordinating most of the schools and agencies east of Bayshore in a fitness program, "EPA Get Fit," to counter obesity by promoting healthy eating and exercise.

Youth and Family Enrichment Services not only works with kids in and leaving foster care; it has a new program, in partnership with the county's Child Protective Services, to identify kids who have witnessed domestic violence.

YFES then works with the kids and their families to solve problems. "We're trying to prevent children from entering the foster care system," says Executive Director Bob Rybicki.

Charities throughout the area echo Sister Christina: Needs for help are steady or rising; donations are down.

"Our donations are down 50 percent from last year," says Brooke Scharnke, who runs the Pal Alto Urban Ministry and the Clara-Mateo Alliance helping several thousand homeless and near-homeless in the area. "This is the time of the year we get 60 percent of our donations. This is a little bit frightening for us."

Hurricane Katrina has reached East Palo Alto and Belle Haven. Ecumenical Hunger Program is helping more than 20 refugee families from Katrina, and two from Rita.

"Some are not sure what they will do; the housing market is a shocker for these families," says Nevida Butler, executive director. "They're depressed, very depressed" -- and likely to get even more so as Christmas approaches.

Donations are also "slow, slow and low" at EHP, Ms. Butler says. And their clients are not seeing any bounce in the economy. "I don't see any increase in jobs, and they tend to be very, very low pay," she says. "I'm kind of scared."

All charities need money, and most welcome volunteers. Many also collect food, clothes and toys

Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson offers a reminder, "People have needs every day of the year. Let's keep the spirit of Christmas in our hearts around the year."

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