Holiday Giving Takes A Dive

Published: Dec 22, 2007

This may be the season for giving, but nonprofits that serve the needy are reporting a rough time of it. Donations are down, yet the number of people who need help is up.

Last year, for example, Metropolitan Ministries provided holiday meals and gifts to 17,000 poor Tampa families. This year, 22,000 families signed up for assistance.

Morris Hintzman, president of Metropolitan Ministries, says he needs help meeting the need.

The agency is short about 263,000 pounds of food. Toy and gift donations are down 40 percent.

As a result, children will get only one toy, not two. Even still, the nonprofit is short nearly 47,000 toys.

Hintzman says that in 26 years of operating the ministry, he's never seen so much need and such a shortfall.

His organization can be contacted at www.metromin.orgor 813-209-1219.

In the Christmas spirit, please consider bringing comfort and joy to the less fortunate.

It's not too late to help.