Although economists and politicians keep searching for signs of economic progress, local charities report that people on the North Shore are more needy than ever — and keeping up with that demand is getting harder.
"Some agencies I've talked to in Gloucester and Beverly are saying they've seen as much as a 25 percent increase in people coming in looking for food," said Margo Casey, executive director of North Shore United Way, which doles out about $1 million annually to more than two dozen community agencies.
"People they haven't seen before are out there standing in lines — that's the most tangible way to see what's going on."
At Beverly Bootstraps Community Services, Executive Director Sue Gabriel is "still seeing great need, and we don't see that reducing at all. Fortunately, we're not seeing the incredible, double-digit percentage increases like we saw the last two years, but the need is still increasing."
Last year, 211 families signed up for Bootstraps' "Adopt a Family" program, which provide Christmas gifts to families who can't afford them. This year, the number jumped to 263 families. Food requests are up, too. The agency gives food to about 40 households a day, up from 10 to 12 households a day just five years ago.
"We've seen a 60 percent increase in demand just over the last two years," Gabriel said.
In Peabody, Haven From Hunger, a nonprofit food pantry and soup kitchen, is giving food to more than 300 families per week, according to Alyse Barbash, the new executive director.
She said 30 to 40 people come to the soup kitchen for a meal each night. The people who show up run the gamut, from seniors to the homeless, to teens, couples and whole families. When the organization held a Christmas dinner for the first time this year, 41 people showed up.
It's no secret why demand at these organizations is so high. As of October, the unemployment rate in Massachusetts was 7.7 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. That's actually down from a high of 10.4 percent in January, but up more than 7 percent from November 2007.
"There is a sense that the economy is starting to lift, but I don't think we've seen the results of it yet — not this giving season," Casey said.
"We're still trying to figure out what is the new normal. There's a confidence problem. People are not confident that if they get the job, they'll keep the job."
Fundraising concerns
For nonprofits, the end of the year is when they make hay.
It's not just because people are in the holiday spirit, but also because donations must be made by Dec. 31 if donors want 2010 tax write-offs. The United Way receives about 60 percent of its charitable donations in the last few months of the year; Beverly Bootstraps gets a third of its yearly donations between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve.
The United Way has set a goal to raise $1.2 million by the spring, which it will spread out to more than 20 local charities.
"These agencies are more dependent on us than ever before (because of state and federal budget cuts). That's why this fundraising is so critical," Casey said.
According to a recent survey conducted by Vision Critical, 46 percent of Americans surveyed said they would be giving less to charity this year than last. Only 8 percent said they would be giving more. The majority said they would give more if they had more to give.
"It's hard to get new donors right now," Casey said. "Because of the economic crisis a couple of years ago, people were very aware of the need. Now the crisis is silent. Unless you know somebody in your family who is affected, you're probably not as aware."
Food pantries like Beverly Bootstraps and Haven From Hunger like to stockpile food so they have items available for the lean times when people's minds aren't as much on giving. That's proving difficult, too.
"On the food side, I don't believe we've received as much as we do typically," Gabriel said of the pantry at Beverly Bootstraps. "And what we do get is going out the door so quickly there's no chance to stockpile."
At Haven From Hunger, "the donations have been coming in, but I'm fearful of what happens Jan. 2," said Barbash, the director. "I hope people will remember that (after the holidays) people still need to eat. ... My goal would be to have all of the shelves full. The more you have, the more you can give."
Bootstraps by the numbers
2,200 — number of households receiving aid
2,100 — items of food distributed in November
634 — backpacks given to children before the start of school
550 — children receiving donated holiday gifts
6,000 — summer park lunches donated to feed hungry children
63 — families that received heating aid
93 — students enrolled in English as a Second Language classes
29 — students enrolled in after-school program
27 — adults who completed computer and work force training classes
To donate
Acord Food Pantry: 69 Willow St., Hamilton, 978-468-7424, acordfoodpantry.org
Beverly Bootstraps: 371 Cabot St., Beverly, 978-927-1561, info@beverlybootstraps.org, www.beverlybootstraps.org
Haven From Hunger: 71 Wallis St., Peabody, 978-531-1530, havenfromhunger@aol.com, www.havenfromhunger.com
Marblehead Food Pantry: 80 Atlantic Ave., Marblehead, 781-631-5335
North Shore United Way: 248 Cabot St., Beverly, 978-922-3966; www.nsuw.org.
People to People Food Pantry: 12 Sylvan St., Danvers, 978-739-4188
St. Joseph's Harvest of Hope: 13 Franklin St., Salem, 978-744-2532
The Salem Pantry: 211 Bridge St., Salem, 978-744-3224, www.thesalempantry.org
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