Tuesday night heaviness with a touch of hope

I am a member of the Redwood City Housing and Human Concerns Committee.  Part of the Committee's job is to administer Community Development Block Grants.  These are funds that come through the Federal government for us to administer within Redwood City because the city fits specific criteria regarding our populations demographics.

All of this is a complicated way of saying that I am part of a committee that solicits applications from agencies who provide direct services to Redwood City citizens who fall into several categories, including seniors, low-income, homeless, disabled and other under-served folks in the community.

Tonight we had our funding deliberations.  Which means that after receiving far more applications than we had available funding, we deliberated and put forward recommendations to the City Council.

All this means that over the last few weeks, I and my fellow committee members have been reviewing applications from non-profits, listening to representatives and clients from these organizations and tonight debating what they do, how many people they serve, and who best fits the parameters to receive these funds.

It was depressing as hell.  No lie, worst year in the five I have been involved with this committee.  We had approximately one-fourth of the funding that was requested.  It was tough, and some great organizations didn't receive funding, and none of them received the full amount of their request.  Truly depressing is the fact that many of the organizations have had their funding from other sources and their fundraising dip because of cut backs and the economy.

Now for the hope.  No really, it's in here.

Each of these organizations, and many like them in other communities accept donations in the form of cash, other assets and volunteer hours.  This means that we, each one of us who lives in a community have an opportunity to support those of our citizens who most need help through our donations.

If you already volunteer--at your child's school, at an organization that you have a personal connection to, through your church, wherever, that's great.  If you already donate to charities in your community, that's also great.

If you don't, or if you can do more, think about it.

A venti latte at Starbucks costs $4, more if you get syrup or other add-ons.  A donut costs about $1.  Lunch out at work costs anywhere from $3-20.

Times are tough, I don't mean to sound preachy, but the statistics are terrifying.  Unemployment is out of control, we are likely looking at several years before we have a significant financial recovery.  There are people in our communities who need help, and many of us are in the position to provide help.

You think that your few dollars won't help or make a significant dent, but they will.  Agencies can leverage your small donation and point to it as community support when they apply for larger grants or other private matching funds.  Those same agencies call out the number of volunteer hours donated per year as a part of their bottom line on services provided to their communities.

That's the touch of hope.  No matter how bad things get, no matter how desperate these agencies and these community members get, there are always people who can help.  That's us, folks, it's us--because if we don't do it, and don't encourage our friends to do it, who will?

Sorry to be preachy--I'm off the soapbox now, and getting ready to head to bed.  What did you do tonight?