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Printer-Friendly ModeRelief efforts take from local charities
September 26, 2005 —
With millions of dollars being funneled down south to Hurricane Katrina victims, the Red Cross and Salvation Army, the nation's two most preeminent charities, have gone on record the past week stating their fears that 'donor fatigue' will eventually leave many charities out in the cold. With so much being donated to the victims of Katrina, and now Hurricane Rita, many local organizations are feeling the sting resulting from the few dollars that were available heading elsewhere.
Donating to the hurricane victims is certainly an honorable act, but local citizens and students should not forget that deserving charities in the area need our dollars just as badly as Gulf Coast residents. The initial wave of needed assistance has passed, and while residents are still in need of more assistance, FEMA and the federal government are now taking control to ensure that residents' basic needs are met.
All of the support for the Katrina relief fund raises an important question: Is it fair to deny assistance to the local Habitat for Humanity, United Way or Red Cross, which affect Michigan residents directly, to help Gulf Coast residents who are struggling to make ends meet?
The answer is no. While we sympathize with hurricane victims and all they have suffered, the goal of local organizations should be to provide services for the community.
Last year, the Student Association donated the proceeds of the "Battle of the Valleys" to the Child Abuse and Neglect Council (CAN). This year, proceeds from the event are going to victims of Hurricane Katrina. While the Association's intentions are admirable and the funds are still being donated to a just cause, child abuse (and other problems) still exist within the reach of the Saginaw Valley campus, and should not be forgotten to assist citizens thousands of miles away.
With the City of Saginaw laying off Police officers and crime in the area rising, there is no better time than now to donate to organizations that strive to lower crime, promote education and offer assistance to local families in need.
As for donor fatigue, the real test may not come until Christmas approaches when many who donated to the Katrina relief fund will be asked to donate to other charities. Yet the question remains, will people who donated to the relief fund still give to the Salvation Army ringers outside of stores? Or to the other local charities raising money?
With rising fuel and gas prices cutting into discretionary incomes, people could easily forget about the needy and deserving in our own community. After all, its often difficult for people to satisfy their own needs.
A still sluggish Michigan economy, and recent cutbacks in the local auto industry ensure that there will be people who depend on charities to make ends meet.
It is reported that the federal government is likely to spend upwards of $70 billion by the end of October in the Gulf region. However, it is not going to spend anywhere near that amount in the Tri-Cities region, even though there are many deserving needy here.
Running up the federal deficit may not be the ideal solution, but lawmakers have essentially given the region a blank check to work with, and because of this, people should now focus on their local charities. At this point, those suffering the horrible ramifications of Katrina have sufficient support from the federal government, while local organizations such as the United Way and YMCA are struggling to stay afloat.
So during the next weeks and months when organizations often compete in events for homecoming or "Battle of the Valleys," we urge our campus to not forget the local charitable organizations they have served in the past.
Katrina is a national tragedy, but it is being covered by the federal government, however late and mismanaged. Yes, every time you think of raising a dollar for the Katrina relief fund, you are supporting a needed and just cause. However, keep in mind that that same dollar could provide funding for the charitable organizations in the community or be used to buy a Christmas present for a local child who might otherwise have an empty stocking come Christmas morning.