SLOW ECONOMY MAKES TASK OF RAISING FUNDS FOR CHARITIES MORE CHALLENGING

A slow economy has made raising money for charity more challenging than ever.

Organizers of local charitable campaigns say contributors this year are concerned about how their donations are being used.

"People want to see what you've doing with their money. They want to see those services provided," said Capt. Elmer Trapp of the Salvation Army, one of the country's oldest charities.

The Salvation Army helps needy families year round, a factor Trapp says helps when it's time to solicit donations for holiday campaigns.

Trapp said that when people decide which charitable organizations to support, they give to the agency they perceive helps the most people. And they don't want to pay for the organization's administrative costs, he said.

"People know that the Salvation Army helps people regardless of their religious denomination and that we're flexible," Trapp said. "We help people when they need it, year-round."

The Salvation Army, like other charities, is in the midst of the Christmas fund-raising season.

Campaign officials with the Salvation Army's Tree of Lights campaign, the United Way and Toybox are hoping the holiday spirit of giving will help them meet their goals this year.

Bob Neff, chairman of the Tree of Lights Campaign, said he is "cautiously optimistic" that the organization will collect it's goal of $100,000 before the Christmas Eve deadline.

"The contributions at this point are a little bit off the pace for us to be able to hit our goal," Neff said.

The campaign has gotten strong support from civic clubs, Neff said, and he hopes contributions will accelerate during the next two weeks.

Last year, the goal for the Tree of lights campaign was $85,000. The money is used to provide Christmas toys, food and clothing for needy families and it also helps support the Salvation Army's year-round charitable work.

So far about $30,000 has been collected. Neff said the traditional kettles, placed outside of local retail stores, bring in about one-third of the total money collected.

United Way Chairman Harry Rediger said the organization's nearly half-million dollar campaign is within 95 percent of reaching its goal.

Rediger said the sagging economy has not hindered the campaign.

"I think we're not as affected in the midwestern area" by the recession, he said. "In fact, many businesses here are doing quite well."

Donations to Toybox, which provides Christmas toys for needy children, are about 50 percent behind what they were last year, said Kim McDowell, Toybox chairman.

Toys and clothing are collected and then given to children in Cape Girardeau County for Christmas.

"What we really need are toys and clothing for kids 3 and under," McDowell said. "This week will be a crucial week" for donations.

McDowell said the slower-than-average donations are most likely due to the economy and to a short holiday season. The gifts given to children through Toybox often are the only ones they receive.

"The special thing about Toybox is it provides gifts directly to children," she said. "It lets these children know that someone cares, and they're going to remember that when they get older."

A group of Jaycees dressed as Santas will deliver the toys Dec. 19. "We're looking for last-minute contributions," McDowell said. "People may be procrastinating."