Joomla Login LightBox powered by WowJoomla.com

The down economy is being felt by everyone, charities included.

At the Ministerial Alliance Toy Store in Smithville, donations are down by about 25 percent over 2008, said Kerry Winans, co-chair of the toy store, while the number of families signed up for the event have doubled.

“With corporations and local businesses, the community has been really great, but individual giving has just been down,” she said.

Winans said she suspects that individual toy donations are probably down this year because people are worried about their own economic problems and don’t have the money to spare.

“A lot of people see the collection barrels, but in the past it’s been a conversation piece, and now people are just worried about doing their own Christmas,” she said. “We’re not in a community where we have a lot of surrounding cities to help us. We’re pretty isolated.”

But while donations are down this year, Winans said the Toy Store will still go on as planned, just with fewer toys than usual. She said every toy given has been appreciated.

“I want to thank the people who have given this year, because I know it’s been a hard year to give,” she said.

Although some charities like the toy store are struggling with donations this year, some have fared much better as the need has increased.

At the First Christian Church food pantry, Minister Jim Matson said they are just recovering after a drop in donations combined with an increase in need in November. But thanks to a surge in donations at the end of the month, Matson said the pantry’s stocks are full once again.

The food pantry, Matson said, has seen a considerable increase in use this year.

“Absolutely more people are making use of it,” he said. “It’s been that way since at least mid-summer.”

The Shop With a Cop program put on by the Smithville Police Department has also fared well this season.

Smithville Police Chief Ken Wilson said extra donations this year allowed the program to expand from 10 kids to 18.

“Funding has been unbelievable,” he said. “Donations just keep coming in. It’s been unbelievable; it really has. But knowing this community, it doesn’t surprise me.”

Staff writer Michael Westblade can be reached at 389-6636 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed