The tsunami in Asia, Katrina and Rita in the Gulf Coast, the earthquake in Pakistan, all of these disasters have touched hearts and pocketbooks in Minnesota.

But some organizations fear the giving spirit may be gone and people are feeling a little "charity fatigue."

Hugh Parmer is the president of the American Refugee Committee which played a big role in helping the victims of the tsunami. His organization is also at the forefront of getting relief supplies to victims of the Pakistan earthquake.

But that disaster is massive and Parmer says funds are slow in coming, "We've gotten in about a fourth of the funds from the public than we received at a comparable period of time after the tsunami."

Parmer worries that givers may be tapped out, "The money's running a little thin. I think people are a bit tired."

Parmer's concerns are echoed by Major Dan Sjogren of the Salvation Army, "Some people have within their budgets X amount of dollars that they give to charity. And so if they give it for the hurricane down south, they don't have it to give us locally."


Yet Sjogren and Parmer know the need is great.

Wednesday, Parmer's colleagues gathered for a brown bag status report on relief efforts in Pakistan. They wanted to hear Alex Erolin who helped establish ARC relief in earthquake ravaged Ratnoi, Pakistan.

"And all along the way, this is the scene during daytime... house after house after house simply leveled," said Erolin as he showed slides of people standing next to rubble. "What the team accomplished is a drop in the bucket, a drop in a big ocean. The real challenge now is from here on out," added Erolin.

Erolin was talking about the earthquake relief challenge but he could just as well have been talking about the end-of-year giving challenge.

The Minnesota Council on Non-Profits says giving for huge disasters often times goes over and above giving for regular charitable causes, which means the Salvation Army and other local charities may still see much needed funds coming in.

If you'd like to help the thousands of homeless in Pakistan, visit the
American Refugee Committee's Web site.

If you'd like to help the homeless, hungry and needy closer to home, visit
The Salvation Army



By Ken Speake, KARE 11 News

 

(Copyright 2005 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)