National jobless claims are the highest in almost 27 years and the South Carolina unemployment rate is even higher and rising again. One in 10 people is on food stamps, with the average receiving around $100 a month. With the high price of food these days, $100 doesn’t go very far. To make matters worse, state government agencies are being forced to cut their budgets even more at the exact wrong time.

Who is taking care of those in need? – Nonprofit Charities. But nonprofit organizations are also getting crunched during these tough economic times. Lines at local food banks, shelters and other critical service organizations are growing longer every day. Middle class Americans are those now seeking assistance from the nonprofit organizations that they have helped support in the past.

The holidays have often been a time to give back, but now more than ever is the time to contribute to charities serving your local community and neighbors. The need for services keeps increasing at an alarming rate. Non-profits need extra program and general operating funds to keep up with the escalating demand. Although people are giving, the contributions are not keeping up with the growing need for services, so now more than ever is a time to give.

All of us are feeling the effects of the economy these days. Many of our state’s non-profits are dealing with critical service essentials such as heat, rent, food, and medical assistance. The economic downturn impacts these needs tremendously. We have much to be thankful for if we have our needs met; particularly those that are of the most basic to life. Giving back to keep our nonprofit community now, in these difficult times, could be the most important gift of the season. Everyone’s help, which includes gifts of time and resources, is possibly the easiest gift to give this year.

If you would like to see a list of non-profit members who make every effort to stay strong through professional development please visit the S.C. Association of Nonprofit Organizations Web site at www.scanpo.org. SCANPO works with nonprofit organizations in South Carolina by training in best practices among other things. Non-profits participating in SCANPO’s trainings are receiving great professional continuing education, which helps to assure that the business practices of the non-profit members are excellent, giving additional confidence to donors that their favorite charities are extremely conscientious and utilizing their resources very well. Yet, they need your help.

Be thankful for what you have, but recognize that you have more than you need -- and others are in need now more than ever. Now IS the time to give back and help the non-profits in our communities serve the increasing needs of your community.

Thank the non-profits by supporting them.

Mason B. Hardy is president of the S.C. Association of Nonprofit Organizations, which represents the charitable non-profit community in South Carolina. For more information on SCANPO, visit www.scanpo.org or call 803-929-0399.

You must be logged in to comment.