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Charity organizers agree needs have greatly increased this year:
• Requests for food from the United Way of the Lowcountry increased
40 percent this year, said Chrystie Turner, director of resource services.
• Applications for food and financial aid to the Salvation Army of the Lowcountry increased 20 percent, according to director Kenny Griffin.
• Appeals for assistance to the Deep Well Project have doubled in two years, said executive director Betsy Doughtie. Deep Well normally provides daily food for a maximum of five Hilton Head Island families, but will try to serve 10 families this year.
• Operation Holiday Heroes, a collaboration of charities that includes United Way, reports requests for help are up 25 percent. Holiday Heroes will provide Christmas toys and food to about 1,600 children this winter, Turner said.
Those who qualify as needy includes a wider demographic, Griffin said. "What we're seeing is people who've never applied before," he said, "more people being cut from full-time to part-time or losing their job because the business closes."
The cost of providing help also is increasing. Doughtie said the Deep Well Project food costs are $15,392 this year, a $4,000 increase from 2007 she attributes to rises in per-unit costs.
"It's a direct result of the economy," Turner said.
Donations typically come from middle-class families feeling fortunate enough to give back to the community, Turner said. She added some of those working families now are coming to local organizations for help.
"It's just getting us a little nervous," Turner said. "This year, we don't know if we're going to get all those (donor) families because of the economic situation. We're hoping the community is really going to come together and make those donations.
"It just breaks my heart to think that there are children without toys on Christmas or food on the table."
