Nonprofits struggle to feed homeless

By Jason Gibbs Sun-News reporter
Article Launched: 06/02/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT


Click photo to enlargeChuck Viverette, assistant director of Gospel Rescue Mission,... (Sun-News photo by Shari Vialpando)«12»

LAS CRUCES — Four days, no coffee.

It may not sound like much of a hardship to many of us. But for those who serve food and provide shelter to the city's most needy, it's just a sign of the times.

This week, El Caldito soup kitchen had to put off purchasing the morning staple because it is too expensive. With a declining economy, more people are seeking help from the city's shelters, soup kitchens and food banks. And that same economic slump means fewer dollars and donations coming in to fill the shelves.

"Everybody knows the cost of food is going up, up, up," said Ruth Anderson, secretary of the El Caldito board of directors. "We have seen an increase in people who eat here in the last two months. It's gone way up" from about 160 a day on average to as many as 225 in recent weeks.

El Caldito isn't the only organization struggling with the summertime situation. During the hotter months, more fruits and vegetables are needed as well as meats of all kinds and non-perishable food items.

Because of Las Cruces' climate and the sagging national economy, more people are on the city's streets or hovering near homelessness, said Charles Viverette, assistant director of Gospel Rescue Mission. The mission serves roughly 6,000 people a month, providing food and shelter.
"A lot of things are changing right now," he said. "There's people in need ... we are so crowded now we are even having to open the kitchen up during the summer for extra bedding (space). That's never happened in the summer before."

Viverette said the mission has tripled the number of food boxes it is giving out over recent years. And all too often those boxes are going to families trying to make ends meet and care for children, he said.

"We have the food and we are going to give it out," he said. "But there are a lot more families. I don't know what's happening, but we are giving out more food."

Pamela Angell, executive director of Community of Hope, said donations from the public have been on a downward slide for about two years. Community of Hope has seen about a 30 percent decrease in donations from individuals and roughly 30 percent decrease from churches. Some grant money has been awarded, which is helping the situation, she said. But cash donations at the local level help match those funds and are more useful for day-to-day operations.

And summertime brings it's own needs as well as lower donations when compared with holiday generosity.

"Usually our best time (for donations) is between Thanksgiving and Christmas," she said. "It's when people start thinking about other people and giving. It's such a warm and fuzzy time for people. That time among our clients is happy and joyful in a way. But the hard times hit after the new year."


Jason Gibbs can be reached at jgibbs@lcsun-news.com

http://www.lcsun-news.com/news/ci_9449976