Posted on Fri, Nov. 13, 2009

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Lift up neighbors, community

The usual festive adjectives will have some sobering company this year, as the season of giving in the Wichita area follows a year of layoffs.

Area charities already are using words such as "staggering" and "tough" to describe the rising numbers of people requesting help and the deepening need for donations and volunteers.

The community saw a measure of the challenge on Thursday, with the announcement that the United Way of the Plains fell short of its $16.4 million fall campaign goal.

Given the depth of the local downturn, coming up with $15.8 million in pledges counts as a major victory. So does attracting 73 new donor businesses and 13 new individual $10,000-plus donors.

Congratulations to the organizers and thanks to the donors — many of whom are feeling their own economic pain these days.

Still, the campaign total will put pressure on United Way and the 37 agencies it helps fund, because the multiplying needs must be met somehow.

And now, all eyes turn to how other agencies will do with their seasonal charitable fundraising.

Over the next few weeks, Inter-Faith Ministries' Operation Holiday hopes to collect more than $300,000 in cash, as well as nonperishable food items, new or gently used blankets, and clean and warm coats. It also works with the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program.

The Catholic Charities Christmas Sharing program, which will take applications next week, serves people not enrolled in other holiday assistance programs, providing food to adults and families and toys, hats and gloves to children ages 17 and under.

The Salvation Army launched its Christmas Campaign Thursday, aiming to fill its red kettles with $300,000 more than last year, or a total $1.7 million.

The Salvation Army also partners with The Eagle and the Wichita Community Foundation on the Share the Season program, which offers one-time aid to those in unexpected need.

Nonprofit social service organizations in Sedgwick, Butler and Harvey counties still can submit their seasonal wish lists to The Eagle, for publication in a holiday giving guide in late November. Go to the Web site www.kansas.com/wishlist/.

As the United Way campaign underscored, the area charities are asking a lot during an uncommonly difficult time. But there is every reason to expect that south-central Kansans will give generously again this holiday season, recognizing their responsibility to lift up their less-fortunate neighbors and help keep the community strong.

— For the editorial board, Rhonda Holman How to help * United Way of the Plains. Call 316-267-1321 or visit www.unitedwayplains.org. * Catholic Charities of Wichita. Call 316-264-8344 or visit www.catholiccharitieswichita.org. * Operation Holiday. Call Inter-Faith Ministries, 316-264-9303, or take donations to its distribution site, 1227 S. Hydraulic, and other locations listed at www.ifmnet.org. * Salvation Army. Call 316-263-ARMY (2769) or visit www.ringbells.org. * Share the Season. Call the Wichita Community Foundation, 316-264-4880. Or visit sharetheseason.org or wichitacf.org.

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