The tsunami in Asia, Katrina and Rita in the Gulf Coast, the
earthquake in Pakistan, all of these disasters have touched hearts and
pocketbooks in Minnesota.
But some organizations fear the giving spirit may be gone and people
are feeling a little "charity fatigue."
Hugh Parmer is the president of the American Refugee Committee which
played a big role in helping the victims of the tsunami. His
organization is also at the forefront of getting relief supplies to
victims of the Pakistan earthquake.
But that disaster is massive and Parmer says funds are slow in coming,
"We've gotten in about a fourth of the funds from the public than we
received at a comparable period of time after the tsunami."
Parmer worries that givers may be tapped out, "The money's running a
little thin. I think people are a bit tired."
Parmer's concerns are echoed by Major Dan Sjogren of the Salvation
Army, "Some people have within their budgets X amount of dollars that
they give to charity. And so if they give it for the hurricane down
south, they don't have it to give us locally."
Yet Sjogren and Parmer know the need is great.
Wednesday, Parmer's colleagues gathered for a brown bag status report
on relief efforts in Pakistan. They wanted to hear Alex Erolin who
helped establish ARC relief in earthquake ravaged Ratnoi, Pakistan.
"And all along the way, this is the scene during daytime... house
after house after house simply leveled," said Erolin as he showed
slides of people standing next to rubble. "What the team accomplished
is a drop in the bucket, a drop in a big ocean. The real challenge now
is from here on out," added Erolin.
Erolin was talking about the earthquake relief challenge but he could
just as well have been talking about the end-of-year giving challenge.
The Minnesota Council on Non-Profits says giving for huge disasters
often times goes over and above giving for regular charitable causes,
which means the Salvation Army and other local charities may still see
much needed funds coming in.
If you'd like to help the thousands of homeless in Pakistan, visit the
American Refugee Committee's Web site.
If you'd like to help the homeless, hungry and needy closer to home,
visit
The Salvation Army
By
Ken Speake,
KARE 11 News
(Copyright 2005 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)