Economy’s slump hitting nonprofits hard

Aviva Goelman

The fortunes of nonprofit organizations have changed drastically.

Just like many individuals, they are feeling the crunch of economic

downturn, especially of the stock market. We predicted last year that

nonprofit organizations would find themselves in the front lines of

cutbacks and reduced spending. Sadly, the economic restraints have

become a grim reality.

Most philanthropists are for the first time watching their

dollars. Since they, too, are governed by the economy and by the

continued fall of the stock market, their contributions are less.

This affects most nonprofits that survive on grants and donations.

Here at the Costa Mesa Senior Center, a nonprofit funded by

community donations and a matching grants fund from the city of Costa

Mesa, which itself is subject to city and state cutbacks, we struggle

to make ends meet.

We have done better on our annual fund-raising campaign, we have

increased membership and more programs are being offered, but it is

hard to keep growing when the dollars aren’t there. The seniors

themselves have come forward realizing they must help their

organization, but these seniors retired on minimal incomes and give

as much as they can. Their needs are not matched by their incomes.

I want to emphasize that many of our seniors do not have families

close by and regard the senior center as their home away from home.

This is where they congregate and socialize with their friends. This

is the place where everybody knows their name.

Some of them come to the center to eat lunch, which is their main

meal of the day. They take classes, get social services, consult a

nurse for a check-up and receive lots of care and attention from the

center’s staff. It is indeed a haven, a place to have a cup of coffee

and a chat -- even if, these days, you have to pay 25 cents for

coffee because the center can no longer afford to offer the beverage

free of charge.

We have been forced to eliminate staff positions as we watch funds

dwindle. These are employees the seniors depended on and who strove

to provide superior programs for our seniors. Our seniors are being

affected by the budget cuts. We’d like to ask the community to help

them weather this storm. Help can come in many forms, whether it be

financial or in kind.

Perhaps there is someone or some firm able to donate a coffee

vending machine, or the coffee itself, or coffee cups, sugar,

creamers, toilet paper, paper towels, copy paper, printer cartridges

-- contact the center if there are any other donations that can be

offered.

We cannot forget our seniors or put them on the backburner of our

minds. I never realized how difficult it would be to reach out to the

community about the need to contribute to and to take care of the

health and happiness of our aging population. They make up the very

group that gave us, the Baby Boomers, the chance to be educated and

to flourish.

Nonprofit groups give us the means to support each other. Please

continue to give. Reach deep in your hearts and pockets and make this

the best year ever in the spirit of giving.

* AVIVA GOELMAN is the executive director at the Costa Mesa

Senior Center, a 10-year-old independent nonprofit at 695 W. 19th

St., Costa Mesa.