More Americans Volunteering, But Services For Poor Being Cut

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More Americans Volunteering, But Services For Poor Being Cut


Arthur Delaney
April 6, 2009 at 02:08 PM


Michael Stoops says the recession is bringing out a volunteer spirit in America.

"When we're in times like these, there's a greater willingness on the part of the American people to volunteer," says Stoops, director of the National Coalition for the Homeless in Washington, D.C. "We've seen an upsurge in people willing to do direct service volunteering, not just when it's cold" or on religious holidays, Stoops says.

Stoops says he's never had so many applications from people across the country interested in unpaid internships or AmeriCorps positions with his organization. "We've been getting about triple the number of applications over the last two years as homelessness has become more newsworthy or hot issue."

But there's a flip side. Funding sources are diminishing and "the food pantries are running low on food" since the recession started, says Stoops.

Elizabeth Evancho is a development coordinator for ThriveDC, a nonprofit that provides daily meals and services for poor and homeless people in the capital city. She says many of the charitable foundations that give money to ThriveDC are telling her to expect as much as 30 percent less this year, and other foundations are not taking new applications.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/06/more-americans-volunteeri_n_183549.html