New needy putting additional pressure on local charities

Adrienne Packer

Thursday, Dec. 20, 2001 | 10:10 a.m.

Allan Johnson knew something was wrong when in mid-September residents in vehicles began pulling into the parking lot at Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada.

Typically, those who have hit hard times and need help with rent, bills or money for food don't own their own vehicles.

"I was like, 'Who are these people?' " recalled Johnson, who spoke Tuesday to a collection of local charity groups. "Well, they're the new needy."

The new needy are residents who once made a comfortable living before the economy went sour and were laid off shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

They are residents such as the laid-off American Airlines employee and mother of three who visited the Red Cross of Southern Nevada earlier this month when she couldn't pay her rent. Three months earlier, she was making $46,000 a year.

Leaders of local charities said this Christmas they don't have enough money to help their normal number of needy residents. Adding the element of more than 13,000 residents out of jobs has pushed them into a crisis situation.

The leaders, who represented nonprofit organizations and religious groups, gathered Wednesday to brainstorm on ways to share resources and work together to serve more residents.

Rev. Bonnie Polley of Christ Episcopal Church said Las Vegas Valley residents and businesses must step forward to continue helping the jobless until the economy picks up again. She singled out the gaming industry, which other charities claimed have made donations.

"If you say gaming is coming to the plate, I'll say that's good," Polley said. "But I think they can come to the plate a little more."

The charity leaders agreed they should work more closely and, for example, ensure they do not hold fund-raising events on the same days.

"We all have our own charities," said Christine Gibbs-Springer, executive director of Lutheran Social Services. "We should be partnering to any degree possible."

As the holidays pass and the war on terrorism continues, charity groups fear memories of the attacks and their effect on the economy may fade.

"People have been donating out of emotions from the drastic events; it was patriotism," said Gena Satori, director of communications for the Red Cross of Southern Nevada. "All those things played into the gifts."