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Nov 18, 2008 9:02 pm US/Eastern
More People Turn To Social Services For Help
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
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A report prepared by the Forbes Funds, which surveyed 30 frontline agencies, finds them already straining to meet demand and bracing fort a winter of struggle and discontent.
KDKA
The economic crisis is hitting many people hard, but today, more people in the Pittsburgh area are in need of help from social service agencies.
These agencies are struggling to meet unprecedented need.
At the Jubilee Kitchen in the Hill District, they're feeding record numbers of people – not just the regulars, but others who find themselves suddenly in need.
At the Catholic Charities free health clinic, the story is the same.
Unemployment, stagnant incomes and foreclosures are forcing people who've never needed social agencies to call upon their services.
And while utility and food costs continue to soar, donations to charities are down from private individuals, corporations and foundations whose fortunes are dwindling in the economic crises, creating a perfect storm of need.
A report prepared by the Forbes Funds, which surveyed 30 frontline agencies, finds them already straining to meet demand and bracing fort a winter of struggle and discontent.
The agencies are now pulling together in anticipation of making a community-wide appeal to prevent large numbers of people from falling into homelessness.
The agencies are having meetings to prepare an appeal that will call upon people to give small donations – not jut money but canned goods, clothes and furniture, anything people can spare to get others through these very tough times.
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