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CHATSWORTH - A woman called the San Fernando
Valley Interfaith Council on Wednesday
morning, asking for diapers.
She has a newborn, her 5-year-old son is
autistic and her husband was just laid off
from his job, she explained to the volunteer
manning the phones.
"Could you spare a few dollars for gas
money? If my husband finds work, he needs to
get there," she pleaded.
The request was routine, but this year it
will be tough for the Interfaith Council and
other charity groups to grant it.
In a year marked by hurricanes,
earthquakes and other natural disasters,
much of the generosity of San Fernando
Valley residents has already been tapped.
Charity organizers even say high gas
prices may be contributing to "donor
fatigue," with food donations dipping as
much as 25 percent from last year's holiday
season.
"We saw a remarkable change this year
starting with the tsunami disaster of last
year," said Ileene Parker, director of
services for the VIC.
"Very understandably, a lot of our
supporters, especially in the faith
community, responded deeply to those
victims. And although our San Fernando
Community residents are generous, there have
been limits to what they could give."
Many Los Angeles County agencies that
work with the poor say parent companies such
as America's Second Harvest, based in
Chicago, and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture were forced to divert
much-needed supplies and food to the Gulf
States.
"We kind of anticipated it, but we didn't
think it would be as deep as it has been,"
Parker said. "Some pantries didn't receive
any turkeys and meat at all. They are doing
meatless baskets."
While the VIC has served 16,000 people a
month in 2005, a 13 percent increase from
last year, overall donations are down,
Parker said.
Other agencies have also reported
significant dips in donations and some say
high gas prices have also cut the number of
deliveries to food banks. Valley agencies
such as Meet Each Need with Dignity saw a 25
percent decrease in supplies. The agency
helps 53 pantries across the San Fernando
Valley.
"All over, all donations are 25 percent
less than last year," said Gina Mirabella,
food bank director for MEND. "The turkeys
were very slowly coming in.
"This
year, I haven't gotten any commitments from
wholesalers for turkeys. The merchants don't
donate as much anymore. We've been getting
the turkeys in one by one from single
donors."
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank saw a
12 percent drop in donated items since 2004
- a 5 million-pound decrease.
"On the financial side, we're not sure
where we stand right now," spokesman Darren
Hoffman said. "We've started our direct-mail
campaign, and we are just hoping that does
well. We don't know if people are having
donor fatigue. We don't know if people are
tapped out for the year, or if our
supporters will dig deeper."
Agencies said they hope corporations and
private citizens will hold food drives to
help bulk up supplies for the winter months
and upcoming holidays.
A food drive at Six Flags California's
Magic Mountain in Valencia on Wednesday
netted about 25,000 pounds of items such as
bread, peanut butter, canned meats, cereals,
and other supplies, Hoffman said.
"It's been a great day," he said.
Susan Abram, (818) 713-3664
susan.abram@dailynews.com
HOW TO HELP
The following agencies need volunteers,
as well as donations of cash, non-perishable
food and supplies such as blankets, coats,
baby food and diapers, shoes and toiletries:
The San Fernando Valley Interfaith
Council, (818) 718-6460.
Meet Each Need With Dignity, (818)
896-0246.
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, (323)
234-3030.
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