San Benito County residents donated more than $1 million to the
Red Cross Hurricane Katrina fund over the last four months, but the
organization’s officials are concerned that national disasters have
overshadowed the needs of the local community.
Hollister – San Benito County residents donated more than $1 million to the Red Cross Hurricane Katrina fund over the last four months, but the organization’s officials are concerned that national disasters have overshadowed the needs of the local community.
“I think, in a sense, we’re almost competing with ourselves,” said Monterey-San Benito County Red Cross Spokeswomen Laura Kershner. “Quite a few local issues are being overlooked.”
The Red Cross is worried that would-be philanthropists are suffering from donor fatigue, having spent all of their money on other disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, Kershner said.
“Across the country local charities are really being hit hard,” she said. “We’ve taken a one, two, three punch with Katrina, Wilma and Rita. This has been an extremely tight year for us.”
Funding for local Red Cross disaster relief this year is about one tenth of what it was last year, according to Kershner.
The Monterey-San Benito Red Cross counts on donations to fund its local annual operating budget of $850,000. As of last month, the organization had only raised $40,000 compared to more than $400,000 at the same time last year.
“It’s dire straits,” said Kershner. “We’re encouraging people to donate locally this year because, unfortunately, there always seems to be a rash of fires in the middle of winter.”
Between the two counties, the Red Cross responds to more than 70 local disasters each year, Kershner said. The majority of local disasters involve single-family house fires.
For example, sixteen Hollister residents were displaced from their homes on Oct. 31 when a fire of unknown origin ripped through the Hollister Plaza apartment complex on Hillcrest Road. The Red Cross provided food, shelter and clothing for two of the displaced families that could not find a place to stay, Kershner said.
The Red Cross often provides temporary housing, food, teddy bears, cooking utensils and bedding to families devastated by house fires, Kershner said. In some cases the Red Cross will spend $2,000 to $3,000 helping a single family get back on track after a fire.
“We don’t think anyone should have to sleep in their car,” she said.
Even if the Red Cross can’t pay the bills, local families won’t be left out in the cold, Kershner said.
“The national organization would step in to help out,” she said. “But that’s not a position we want to be in. Local people are best suited to deal with local issues because they are familiar with the community and traditions.”
Donors can specify that they want their money to be used in Monterey and San Benito County by writing “for local use” on their checks,” Kershner said.
Brett Rowland covers education for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
