WEST PALM BEACH, FL -- Suzanne Turner is the Executive Director of the YWCA of Palm Beach County and is in the business of opening a gateway to education for our community’s underprivileged youth.
But these days, their services are in jeopardy.
“We’ve had to close two of our programs for 9 to 13-year-old girls,” said Turner.
The YWCA was one of several agencies surveyed on how they’ve been impacted by the economy. They’ve seen a 10% decline in their funds. Turner says that’s a lot when your budget is tight to begin with.
“We’ve had to cut back on supplies. We’ve had to cut back on equipment and you just panic when something goes wrong,” she said.
There’s fear it could get worse as the government cuts spending and grants shrink. The biggest concern for the YWCA, Adopt A Family of the Palm Beaches and others is that private donor funds won’t come through.
“The private donations that we get are unrestricted dollars so it allows us to be creative in what we do,” said Wendy Tippett, CEO of Adopt A Family of the Palm Beaches.
The calls have tripled.
Families in crisis seek help from Adopt A Family to stay on their feet and in their homes. The agency’s pantry struggles to stay stocked in a community where one in three children go to bed hungry. Providing basic needs like food and clothing is getting more difficult.
Organizations throughout Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast have been forced to cut back: About 50% of those surveyed are using reserves to cover the current budget.
All the while, the demand for their services have increased by about 85%.
“I think every non-profit in our community is really a little nervous about the future,” Tippett said.
That future could mean no help for the growing number of needy people. As for the classrooms, lack of funding could force the gate to an affordable education to slam shut.
NewsChannel 5 is partnering with United Way for the "Give $5 Now” campaign.
Here's the idea: If you give $5, and 5 of your friends give $5 that money will eventually add up and rescue non-profits that are there to save us when we most need it.
Visit the United Way of Palm Beach County Web site to participate or visit http://www.wptv.com/give5now. Your donation will go directly to the United Way in the county where your home address is located so you’ll be giving back to “your” community.
