Nonprofits struggle in down economy

Low cash flow has led the Salvation Army of Wake County to be unable to offer financial assistance for the remainder of July.

Posted 10:20 p.m. Jul 9, 2009 — Updated 2:03 p.m. Jul 10, 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. — Food is one of several necessities the Salvation Army offers, but lately, providing those essentials has been a struggle.

“Every month it just gets a little bit worse,” Salvation Army of Wake County spokeswoman Paige Bagwell said.

Low cash flow has led the Wake County branch of the popular nonprofit unable to offer financial assistance for the remainder of July.

“I hated to walk up to our case managers and our staff and say, ‘We just don’t have the money,’” Bagwell said Thursday. “That was a hard statement for me to make.”

Bagwell said Salvation Army donations are down 20 percent while demand is up 25 percent.

It's a similar problem at other area nonprofits.

At Urban Ministries of Wake County, officials said their donations are down as well.

“Summers are always difficult for food pantries because our contributors frequently go out of town. They’re on vacation. They’re thinking about other things,” said Olivia Fleming, of Urban Ministries of Wake County.

Officials with the Triangle United Way said service demands are up 30 percent, but revenue is down 11 percent. The Raleigh Rescue Mission said its item donations are down 30 percent.

The agencies and those who benefit from them are looking to the public for help.

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