This weekend the Huffington Post reported that the nation’s 400 biggest charities are taking a hit because of the recession, with giving down 11 percent last year. Among the groups suffering most are such familiar organizations as the United Way and the Salvation Army, while SantaCruz.com.html reported just last year that “Poverty is up; giving is down,” as the city attempted to organize food drives to help the needy celebrate Thanksgiving.
Now the city has taken another hit, and it has to do with more than just giving. Due to the closure of the Veterans Memorial Building in January, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5888 will not be serving holiday meals to the needy this season. Over the past 24 years, the UVC served Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners to almost 1,000 people.
The problem, they say, is not a lack of food or money, but the fact that there is no alternative space to host the event. Because of storage and cleanup requirements, the site must be available for the week surrounding the holiday event. County Supervisor Neal Coonerty has suggested that the Civic Center be used instead, and a local church has offered space, but to date, neither option has proven viable.
Bob Young, who chairs the veteran group’s Holiday Meals Committee, says that “has helped the needy people, veterans, seniors, students, and lonely residents during holidays, which are based on giving.” That’s a lot of people who will not be celebrating the holidays this year, unless an alternative is found. Read more at Santa Cruz Sentinel.
