United Way of Pennsylvania Broadcasts the Needs of PA Nonprofits

Third and State, a Pennsylvania public policy blog, featured an article on United Way of Pennsylvania’s efforts in showing the demand for nonprofits’ services as well as the effects that budget cuts have had. United Way of Pennsylvania conducted a survey which revealed that 4 out of 5 nonprofits contend that the recession increased demand. Unfortunately, the recession also included a decrease in donations, as well as significant budget cuts. That means a lack of funding for important social services in a time when they’re needed most. With the upcoming federal budget as well as state budget, there is a serious concern amongst nonprofits that they will not be equipped to provide services to many individuals and families, services that these people greatly need. In fact, according to UWP’s survey, over a third of social service agencies surveyed had to turn away people for services and almost 20% had to revoke certain services. In these hard economic times, this is devastating for thousands of Pennsylvanians!

Here in Delaware County, nonprofits are also experiencing the pressure of an increased demand and decreased funding. With more cuts being proposed, it looks like the pressure will only increase. In some areas where the population in poverty is almost at 30%, individuals need and rely on the services that these organizations provide for basic necessities such as food or shelter. If nonprofits in Pennsylvania have to revoke services and turn people away, then that also leaves people in Pennsylvania, which includes Delaware County, who are in need with nowhere else to turn and this has a devastating effect on many of our fellow citizens’ quality of life.

Please take a look at United Way of Pennsylvania’s Survey to see the pressure nonprofits have been facing to provide much needed services.

New Years and Money

Many popular New Year’s resolutions relate to one thing: money. Whether it’s to save more or to get more, wealth is certainly at the forefront of many people’s minds in the new year. United Way of Southeast Delaware County would like to emphasize that although wanting financial stability is a good goal to have for the New Year, keep in mind the people in Delaware County who are struggling to make ends meet. 8% of the population in Delaware County lives below the poverty line. The poverty line is the minimum level of income necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living. Thus 8% of Delaware County’s population does not have the means to have an adequate standard of living. Not having adequate means could translate to many things: not being able to afford utility bills, not being able to afford enough food, and not being able to afford a home. 10% of children (those under 18) in Delaware County are living below the poverty, as well as 7% of senior citizens (those over 65), which means many of those living in poverty are unable to take care of themselves. Also, in some parts of the County, including Chester City, the amount of people living below the poverty level is almost at 30% which is extremely high. With the New Year, keep in mind that many of your neighbors and members of your community not only do not have financial stability but can barely afford the basic means to live.

There are many ways in which you can help. United Way and its partner agencies work with those living in poverty to help better their lives and the lives of their families. One way that you can help is donating to United Way and its Community Impact Fund. United Way unites with its 27 partner agencies together in the common goal of alleviating poverty in Delaware County. Join the cause and Live United!

For more information visit our website for a list of our partner agencies. Also feel free to email United Way directly at info@uwdelco.org

This Week's Guest Blogger: Alan Edelstein

This week, United Way's blog series will focus on hunger in Delaware County. To start off this series, we have a guest blogger, Alan Edelstein from Family and Community Service of Delaware County.

Alan Edelstein is the Executive Director of Family and Community Service of Delaware County (FCS). FCS administers Delaware County’s emergency food assistance programs through a network of food centers including the twelve member centers of the Delco Interfaith Food Assistance Network (DIFAN).

For most of us, the approaching holiday season is a time when we think of gathering together and spending precious time with our loved ones. Many of us also think about making donations to those in need that are less fortunate than ourselves. As a provider of food assistance services, our Agency is grateful that so many folks feel the impulse to give, and we see these sentiments reflected in an outpouring of aid that brightens the holidays for those who are struggling with the persistence of poverty.

In our media culture, the poor tend to be invisible for most of the year. To give you an idea of the extent of hunger in our communities, a 2009 US Department of Agriculture study found that 14.9 percent of Americans­— more than 50 million people­— experienced “food insecurity” at least some time during the year and were unable to meet their dietary needs. Closer to home, last year in Delaware County 7,000 households— including 8,500 adults, 6,600 children and 1,900 elderly persons— received government donated food assistance. As a result of the lingering Great Recession, in the same period the 12 DIFAN food centers distributed 1.1 million meals, an increase of 22 percent over the previous year.

We and our affiliated food centers and agencies greatly appreciate our neighbors’ generous support during the holiday season, which helps us to meet a critical need. However, we should not lose sight of the fact that poverty and food insecurity are not just limited to a couple of months on the calendar, and I encourage everyone to maintain the giving spirit and support organizations that help those in need throughout the entire year.