As donations drop, Lancaster's Salvation Army cuts employees, programs

LANCASTER - The local Salvation Army is struggling financially citing a decrease in general donations and adult day care participants while the demand for the food pantry more than doubled last month.

Salvation Army Captain Bryan DeMichael said, "It's been a tough year," for the organization, 228 W. Hubert St., which saw a decrease of about $55,000 in general donations. DeMichael said it was a culmination of multiple factors that led him to make difficult decisions, including cutting two employee positions and some youth programming.

"We've been trimming wherever possible," he said. "We're really trying to be good stewards with what we have."

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DeMichael isn't sure why donations are down, but he suspects part of it has to do with how donations are mailed, which changed in April 2017. Instead of donating directly to the Lancaster office, it's sent in a pre-addressed envelope to Cincinnati to be handled. The money, if earmarked for Lancaster, only helps the local center, but DeMichael said the redirection of mail is causing some donors to hesitate.

"We're not the only Salvation Army that's down (in donations)," he said, reiterating the mailing issue.

So far this year, the Salvation Army has received $164,000 in general donations as opposed to $219,000 at the same time last year. Donations, which make up 68 percent of the organization's $1.3 million operating budget, fund services such as the food pantry and youth programming

Food pantry 

Even though donations are down, the number of people seeking food pantry services more than doubled last month. In April, the pantry served 2,225 meals last month versus 700 to 900, which is an average number of meals served each month.

Pantry needs often increase when children on are on summer break, and more food is required for kids during the day. Because school isn't out for summer just yet, DeMichael isn't sure why the need is growing, but he knows the summer will likely bring more people to the pantry.

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The pantry is accepting any non-perishable food donations at 228 W. Hubert St., from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

While the lack of donations has impacted some areas of the organization, DeMichael said it had not affected the quality of care provided at the Good Samaritan Center's adult day care, which is a crucial service provided by the agency.

Good Samaritan Center

The Good Samaritan Center provides adult day care services to anyone 18 or over in Fairfield, Hocking and Perry counties who may need socialization or someone to care for them during the day while his or her family is at work. 

The center receives funding from United Way, some donations and government dollars, which is based on the number of participants receiving care daily, but they've had trouble in this area too.

Program Director Kelley Bauman said they've seen a concerning decrease in the number of day care participants.

"We had a significant loss," Bauman said. "We lost 11 participants through unexpected death, unexpected illness or permanent placement."

The day care's maximum capacity is 30 participants, and Bauman said: "the sweet spot" is 24 or 25. It's not uncommon for the number of participants to dip in the winter, "but for whatever reason, we haven't bounced back," she said.

Current daily average attendance is 17 or 18 participants.

"There is a huge need in Lancaster," DeMichael said. "We know that the need is there, but we need to get the word out."

Bauman said the participants have a variety of needs. Some may have Alzheimer's or Parkinson's diseases, and others may have poor decision-making skills or just need socialization.

The program allows for the adult to live at home with family but receive care, so they aren't alone during the day. Data shows the program has had great success, Bauman said, considering 62 percent of participants have delayed placement in a permanent care facility for a year or more, which means more time at home with their families.

The center provides transportation and uses a sliding fee scale to make the services as affordable as possible, Bauman said.

For more information on the Good Samaritan Center, call 740-687-1921, ext. 1010.

To donate, send checks to the Salvation Army serving Lancaster and Fairfield County to 228 W. Hubert Ave. or go online to fcohio.salvationarmy.org.

sremoquill@gannett.com

740-681-4342

Twitter: @SpencerRemo

By the numbers

The Salvation Army's income in Fairfield County comes from five funding sources for its 1.3 million operating budget:

Contributions: 68 percent

Government: 21 percent

Program fees: 6 percent

United Way: 4 percent (supports only adult care services)

Investments: 1 percent

Ninety-one percent of funding covers programming, 6 percent pays administration costs and 3 percent is used for fundraising, according to data provided by the Salvation Army's.