Economy Series: Douglas County nonprofits see increased need

In a tour of the United Community Action Network food bank warehouse, Tom Kelley points out a sign of the times — empty shelves.

“It's been a real challenge to keep up with the demand,” the director of the food bank said.

The UCAN food bank is not alone. Representatives of local nonprofit agencies said they are straining to keep up with a surge in demand for their services. Additionally, they're having a harder time securing substantial funding through sources such as grants and donations.

On a positive note, they are staying afloat through an increase in the number of volunteers and the support of the community, along with federal stimulus dollars and grants from area organizations.

The 50 members of UCAN's food bank have seen a huge increase in people coming to them for food, said Mike Fieldman, UCAN's executive director. Last year, 33,000 people used UCAN's food bank, representing nearly a third of the population in Douglas County, he said.

“People are coming in and saying, ‘I've never had to ask for help before,'” Fieldman said.

Fewer than three years ago, local food banks could offer a five- to seven-day supply of food to people, Kelley said. Now he said he doesn't think any of the agencies are able to give out more than a three- to five-day supply.

The food bank has been basically sustaining itself from food drive to food drive, according to Kelley.

“As soon as we get food we ship it out,” he said. “We've used up all our emergency back supply of donated food.”

BEYOND FOOD

Education is another type of nonprofit service currently in high demand.

Project Literacy, a Roseburg nonprofit group that offers free tutoring to adult learners, is now serving a large number of people who've been laid off, said Tim Smith, executive director the Greater Douglas United Way. Around the same time last year, he said, the program had about 10 clients. This year it has about a 100.

These people have tried to get back into the work force, but can be barred by not having a high school degree, said Eva Reynolds, Project Literacy program director.

Since layoffs in Roseburg began increasing about three years ago, Project Literacy has had a steady influx of people who want help to get their GEDs or to pass entrance examinations so they can go back to school, she said.

Yet the jobs now available require people to have much more education than in the past, Reynolds said. As a result, not only are more job seekers coming in, but also they're staying longer.

“We used to do just four hours; now they're doing 15 hours a week,” she said. “This is their full-time job.”

Project Literacy, which is funded through contributions and grants and is one of the Greater Douglas United Way's 35 member agencies, has been keeping up with the demand as best it can, she said.

“We need to keep the doors open,” she said. “That's a struggle sometimes.”

Grants from the state of Oregon, on which many nonprofit agencies rely, are getting smaller, according to Smith. That means organizations have to apply for more grants to get the same amount of funding they received in the past.

Still, “there is money available,” Smith said. “You just have to have someone dedicated to get it.”

Basically, he said, the groups have to choose between providing services to the community or paying someone to seek out and apply for grants full time.

STIMULUS

Federal stimulus dollars are helping to close the gap when funding is lost from other sources.

UCAN has received nearly $3.3 million in stimulus dollars for various programs. One is the weatherization program, which helps people bring down their utility bills by making their houses more energy efficient, such as installing insulation. Head Start also has received help from stimulus dollars, as have UCAN programs helping the homeless.

“It's been very fortunate that we've been able to get that funding,” Fieldman said.

In addition, Fieldman said that UCAN has seen an increase in local grants from organization such as the Ford Family and Cow Creek foundations.

Another way that both Smith and Fieldman said nonprofit groups have been weathering tough times is through a diversified funding base of private and government grants and donations.

Fieldman said that as a result, “We've been able to roll a little bit better with the ups and downs.”

VOLUNTEERS

One plus side of the economic downturn has been an increase in volunteerism, Smith said. People seeking employment are finding that volunteering is a way for them to network and perhaps meet their next employers.

Sarah Davis, the director of UCAN's AmeriCorps program, said people from all walks of life have been applying to work for AmeriCorps, which pays a small stipend in exchange for community service work. Many are also staying longer with VISTA, which focuses on low-income areas, so they'll still have a job, she said.

Douglas County residents have been aware of just how hard the recession has hit their community, Fieldman said. The awareness shows in their willingness to continue to help out in ways such as organizing more food drives.

Kelley also noted that businesses and organizations with no experience in food drives have started holding them recently.

“People are starting to realize that things are getting closer to home,” he said.

Fieldman said he's lived a lot of other places, but there is something special about Douglas County.

“This is a very unique place in how generous it is,” he said. “This community tends to step up when this community really needs it.”

• You can reach reporter Inka Bajandas at 957-4202 or by e-mail at ibajandas@nrtoday.com.