United Way getting more gifts of time, but needs more gifts of money

The waiting list for the annual Mount Prospect Thanksgiving food baskets was longer than ever this year. After 50 families were put on the list in the hopes that donations would come through, the human services department stopped writing down names because they knew those needs couldn't be served by their group.

The village turned to the United Way, which managed to put together a large dinner the day before Thanksgiving for those who didn't have enough to eat.

Mount Prospect was facing a problem that many service organizations - including the United Way - are also dealing with. More people need help than before because of the floundering economy, but donations are dwindling as people are keeping a closer eye on their wallets.

"Families have to make critical decisions now," said Marcia McMahon, the chief professional officer of the Northwest Suburban United Way. "We're seeing many more families accessing these services now."

Throughout the suburbs, the United Way and agencies it helps have tried in various ways to prepare for a period of greater need and fewer donations, and at the same time, they've begun to stress that donors can also help by giving time and expertise instead of money.

Lake County donors who are short on cash but full of enthusiasm are finding creative ways to give, for instance. In recent weeks, volunteers have cleaned the United Way's shelters when someone has moved out, so the rooms are ready for the next people. A group from Discover Financial Group recently painted an entire United Way subsidized apartment. Kids and their parents are preparing meals which can be frozen, and teens are providing free baby-sitting.

Earlier this year, licensed clinical social worker Diana Bailin called the United Way with an offer to supervise their case managers at no charge, as well as provide deeply discounted one-on-one counseling sessions for the agency's clients.

"It's been amazing how much it's helped our clients to have one-on-one counseling. There are so many different issues that lead to homelessness," said Cindy Harger, executive director of United Way of Lake County.

In lieu of cash donations, others have donated their organization skills and held drives to collect everything from frozen meat to pillows.

Despite the economy, the United Way of Central Kane County still has a steady stream of volunteers donating both time and money, said executive director Paula Yensen. Most recently, a few employees from UPS in Addison helped out by cleaning the gymnasium at the Riverwoods Christian Center in St. Charles.

"People are rallying and understanding that their friends and neighbors and family members are being laid off. So they're all coming together as a community and helping each other," she said. "It's a very grand to see."

Nancy Morgan, director of human services for Mount Prospect and its food pantry, said that the staff began seeing dramatic effects of the financial turndown last April - with donations down by 50 percent compared to the previous April.

Requests for food, on the other hand, were up by 168 percent. And those demands were coming from unexpected areas, such as residents who once owned homes and had dual incomes.

"We are seeing people contacting us who have never contacted us before," Morgan said. "People are in absolute distress; they're coming in for assistance and sobbing."

The story is the same across the region. Even in relatively affluent DuPage County, organizers of PADS, which provides services for the homeless, saw an increase of 39 percent in the people served.

"The types of people now include people that had low-wage jobs and their hours have been cut," said Carol Simler, executive director of DuPage PADS. "They can't afford housing any longer."

Assistance agencies aren't losing faith, however; in times of great stress, people who see what their neighbors are going through tend to step up and give what they can, leaders said.

In Arlington Heights Elementary District 25, a "ready for school" initiative went off without a hitch in July for students who participate in the reduced lunch program. The United Way put no funding toward it, but those involved with the group brought their expertise of who to turn to for their needs.

The success was due to people spending time doing what they could, such as doctors volunteering time to do physicals.

"There's a lot of things we can do with more manpower," McMahon said. "People are very, very anxious to reach out."

In fact, the United Way was started in the wake of the Great Depression when only a few who could give wanted to do what they could.

"I want to be hopeful," said Kathleen Johnson, director of development for DuPage PADS. "We're always in awe of the generosity of the people that do call us and do see the work we're doing."

United Way is also focusing on educating people about issues and advocacy, encouraging those interested to write letters to legislators to free up government funding. In those cases, people who want to do something to help the needy don't necessarily have to give money.

"Our goal is to be able to serve all the people who need it," McMahon said.

Staff Writer Jamie Sotonoff contributed to this report