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CHARITIES SEEKING COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE

By Tirzah Pope/SPECIAL TO THE COMMERCIAL
Monday, December 1, 2008 10:03 AM CST

As the stock market wavers and unemployment rates rise, directors of many charitable organizations say they are feeling the repercussions of the economic downturn.

Pine Bluff students T.J. Sykes (from left), Cordara Frazier, Cameron Luckett and Chan Savage keep their eyes on the Turkey Court King and Queen walking the runway after being crowned Tuesday morning. The event is a fun-filled program to encourage donations of food to charitable organizations. Students collected more than 2,000 cans of food that were donated to Neighbor to Neighbor and the Salvation Army. Pine Bluff Commercial/Ralph Fitzgerald

According to spokesmen for the Salvation Army and Neighbor to Neighbor at Pine Bluff, the number of people needing assistance has increased in the last few months.

Both organizations reported feeding between 2,100 and 2,300 people in October.

“These numbers are expected to be higher in November and December,” Charlotte England, director of Neighbor to Neighbor, said recently. “With the growing number of individuals being laid off and more job losses expected, the demand for food is exceeding our supply.”

The Salvation Army also reports needing food for the growing number of people requiring their services.

Salvation Army Commanding Officers, Sergeants Tyrone and Marver Pinder, said another challenge they face is keeping their pantry stocked while food costs continue to rise. They explained that their meager resources are dwindling.

The Salvation Army and Neighbor to Neighbor are not only responsible for feeding the hungry, but with providing warm clothes, blankets and money to families for utility bills and prescription medications.

“Hundreds of people are asking for help to keep the heat, water, and lights on in their homes,” England said.

The Pinders said they are also working with utility companies and are paying what they can to keep families warm through the winter but do not have enough funds to help everyone.

Both organizations are thankful for the community’s help this holiday season and in the months to come. Representatives from the agencies acknowledge that times are tough for everyone, but ask that people give what they can.

At Salvation Army, the Pinders have been working 12 to 15 hours a day, seven days a week and say that they could use the help of volunteers to distribute food and to ring bells for their Red Kettle campaign.

Tyrone Pinder said Salvation Army has had to pay bell ringers about $18,000 annually and that he would rather see the money go directly to those in need.

Neighbor to Neighbor and the Salvation Army are accepting donations of money, clothes, blankets and food. The Salvation Army is also accepting Christmas gifts for their Angel Tree Program which gives gifts to children and to the elderly.

Salvation Army is located at 501 E. 12th Ave. and the phone number is 534-0504.

Neighbor to Neighbor is located at 1419 Pine St. and the phone number is 534-2883.

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