Charitable Organizations

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Charitable organizations have been climbing back slowly from the recession. Shannon Clancy, Director of Development for the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Phoenix; Colonel Joe Posillico, Southwest Divisional Commander for the City of Phoenix Salvation Army; and Ginny Hildebrand, President and CEO of the Association of Arizona Food Banks; discuss how their organizations are dealing with more people needing the services they provide.

Jose Cardenas: CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN CLIMBING BACK SLOWLY FROM THE RECESSION BUT ALSO HAVE SEEN GREATER DEMAND FORT SERVICES THEY PROVIDE. JOINING ME IS SHANNON CLANCY, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT FOR THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL PHOENIX. COLONEL POSILLICO FOR THE SALVATION ARMY. GINNY HILDEBRAND, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ARIZONA FOOD BANKS. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. I THOUGHT I WOULD START ASKING EACH OF YOU TO DESCRIBE WHAT YOUR ORGANIZATIONS DO AND COLONEL, DID I PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME CORRECTLY?

Colonel Posillico: CLOSE. Posillico

Jose Cardenas: COLONEL, TELL US WHAT THE SALVATION ARMY DOES IN THIS AREA. IT'S NOT JUST ARIZONA.

Colonel Posillico: OUR SOUTHWEST DIVISION BASICALLY SERVES EVERYTHING FROM LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, TO HOBBES, NEW MEXICO. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE IT'S IN TWO STATES PLUS SOUTHERN NEVADA. OUR PURPOSE IS SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER RELATE TO TRYING TO MEET HUMAN NEED WHERE THAT NEED IS THE MOST EVIDENT.

Jose Cardenas: WE HAVE A PICTURE OF SOME OF YOUR VOLUNTEERS ON THE SCREEN.

Colonel Posillico: THAT'S HOW WE RAISE SOME OF OUR MONEY TO DO WHAT WE DO. THIS IS OUR ANNUAL KETTLE PROGRAM. WE OPERATE SEVERAL HOUSING PROGRAMS BOTH FOR FAMILIES AS WELL AS THOSE IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND RECOVERY PROGRAMS AS WELL AS SENIOR HOUSING. WE DO PROVIDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE. WE PROVIDE FOOD BOXES IN TERMS OF TRYING TO KEEP FAMILIES STABLE AND WITHIN THEIR HOMES. IN ADDITION TO OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITY THAT WE OPERATE IN SOUTH PHOENIX.

Jose Cardenas: TELL US ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION OF FOOD BANKS AND YOUR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS.

Ginny Hildebrand: WE HAVE FIVE MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF ARIZONA. THEY COVER ALL 15 COUNTIES WITH EMERGENCY AND SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD SERVICES. OUR ROLE IS REALLY TO IDENTIFY WHAT THOSE MEMBERS THINK THEY COULD DO COLLABORATIVELY AND COOPERATIVELY. WE DO THINGS LIKE OUR ARIZONA STATEWIDE GLEANING PROJECT THAT HARVESTS FRESH PRODUCE AND TRANSPORTS THAT --

Jose Cardenas: IS THIS A WAREHOUSE?

Ginny Hildebrand: THAT'S ONE OF OUR WAREHOUSES. THAT'S DECEMBER EFFORT MISSION IN NORTH PHOENIX, ONE OF OUR MEMBERS ALONG WITH ST. MARY'S FOOD BANK AND UNITED FOOD BANK IN THE VALLEY AND COMMUNITY FOOD BANK IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA AND TUCSON AND YUMA COMMUNITY FOOD BANK. THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE HAVE IN TERMS OF A WAREHOUSE AND GETTING FOOD OUT. OUR FOOD BANKS ARE DISTRIBUTING CLOSE TO 11 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD A MONTH AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EMERGENCY AND SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD NEEDS THROUGHOUT COMMUNITIES IN ALL OF ARIZONA ARE MET.

Jose Cardenas: THESE ARE THE FOOD BOXES THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED TO INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES OR HOW DOES THAT WORK?

Ginny Hildebrand: THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT A FOOD BOX MAY LOOK LIKE. IT'S USUALLY ABOUT A THREE-DAY SUPPLY OF FOOD THAT CAN INCLUDE FRESH VEGETABLES AND FRUIT. IT CAN INCLUDE DRY PRODUCTS, CANNED PRODUCTS, USDA COMMODITIES. EVEN PRODUCT THAT THE FOOD BANK WOULD PURCHASE TO PUT IN THERE.

Jose Cardenas: ALL LOOKS VERY HEALTHY. SHANNON, ST. VINCENT DE PAUL, GIVE US AN OVERVIEW.

Shannon Clancy: WE HAVE A DUAL MISSION. WE SERVE PEOPLE IN NEED BUT WE ALSO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO SERVE. WE FEED, CLOTHE, HOUSE AND HEAL PEOPLE. PEOPLE KNOW US FOR OUR DINING ROOMS AND FOOD BOXES THAT WE PROVIDE THROUGHOUT CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ARIZONA. WE HAVE OUR THRIFT STORES THAT NOT ONLY ARE LOW COST PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO --

Jose Cardenas: THESE ARE VOLUNTEERS ON THE SCREEN?

Shannon Clancy: YES, SOME OF OUR VOLUNTEERS.

Jose Cardenas: SO THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE DOING, PUTTING TOGETHER THE BOXES.

Shannon Clancy: YES. WE HAVE OUR THRIFT STORES WHERE PEOPLE CAN BUY LOW COST ITEMS AS WELL AS WE GIVE THOSE AWAY FOR FREE FOR PEOPLE IN OUR VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ARIZONA. THEY DO HOME VISITS TO PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES, BRING FOOD BOXES AND CONNECT THEM WITH RESOURCES, PROVIDE RENT AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE. WE HAVE HOUSING PROGRAM FOR OLDER AND DISABLED ADULTS. WE ALSO HAVE A MEDICAL AND DENTAL CLINIC FOR THE WORKING POOR. WE DO A VARIETY OF THINGS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF WORKING POOR AND HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.

Jose Cardenas: I BELIEVE WE HAVE A PICTURE OF THE DENTAL CLINICS WHICH HAS GOTTEN A FAIR AMOUNT OF VERY POSITIVE PUBLICITY.

Shannon Clancy: WE HAVE CHILDREN'S DENTAL PROGRAM, AN ADULT DENTAL PROGRAM. WE USE A LOT OF STUDENTS FROM A, IT-STILLS MIDWESTERN, OTHERS, THEY COME IN AND DO DENTAL HYGIENIST STUDENTS TRAIN THERE UNDER A DENTIST. WE USE A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS. VOLUNTEER DENTISTS FOR OUR ADULT PROGRAM. ONE OF THE GREATEST UNMET HEALTH NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY IS IN ADULT DENTAL. YOU NEED A NICE SET OF HEALTHY TEETH TO JUST GET A JOB.

Jose Cardenas: ALL OF YOU MENTIONED VOLUNTEERED. MY SENSE IS THAT THAT COMPONENT OF WHAT YOU ALL DO HAS BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT GIVEN THE ECONOMIC CRISIS.

Colonel Posillico: SIGNIFICANTLY SO FOR US IN TERMS OF WHAT THE VOLUNTEERS DO FOR US. WE RECENTLY COMING OFF OUR CHRISTMAS SEASON WE HAD ANGEL TREES OUT IN 15 DIFFERENT MALLS THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY OF THE SUN. ALL BASICALLY MANNED BY VOLUNTEERS.

Jose Cardenas: AN ANGEL TREE IS AN OPPORTUNITY --

Colonel Posillico: AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE WILL PUT TAGS ON TREES IN DIFFERENT MALLS WITH CHILDREN'S NAMES ON IT. THESE ARE ACTUAL KIDS WHOSE FAMILIES ARE REQUESTED CERTAIN GIFTS AND TOYS AT CHRISTMASTIME. AN INDIVIDUAL CAN TAKE ONE OF THOSE TAGS AND BUY THAT TOY AND WE SEE THAT THOSE TOYS ARE DELIVERED TO THE CHILDREN WHOSE NAMES ARE ON THE TAGS. THOSE ANGEL TREES ARE MANNED BY VOLUNTEERS. WE HAVE OUR WAREHOUSE DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON WHERE WE PACK AND DISTRIBUTE ALL OF THOSE TOYS AND MANY OF THEM ARE DONE BY VOLUNTEERS. I HAVE A LOT OF COMPANIES THAT COME DOWN WITH EMPLOYEES. ONE OF THE -- IN OUR KETTLE PROGRAM OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS FOR THAT. THIS SEASON WE WERE FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH FRY'S GROCERY STORES 114 FRY'S STORES IN ONE DAY PUT THEIR EMPLOYEES OUT ON THE STREETS WITH THE RED KETTLES TO RAISE FUNDS FOR. THAT ON CHRISTMAS DAY, WE'RE DOWN AT THE CONVENTION CENTER. WE WORK WITH THE CITY OF PHOENIX THAT ALLOWS US TO USE IT TO SERVE CHRISTMAS MEAL THIS. YEAR WE PROBABLY HAD OUR LARGEST MEAL THAT WE HAVE EVER SERVED IN 27 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS. ALMOST 8,000 PEOPLE BETWEEN THOSE WHO DINED AND SAT DOWN AND HAD A MEAL THERE AS WELL AS THOSE THAT WERE HOME DELIVERED. WITH THAT ABOUT 1200 VOLUNTEERS JUST ON THAT DAY ALONE CAME OUT TO HELP US ACCOMPLISH THAT.

Jose Cardenas: YOU MENTIONED YOUR KETTLE PROGRAM. NEWS REPORTS WERE YOU WERE ABOUT $1 MILLION DOWN THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

Colonel Posillico: THAT'S ACROSS BOTH THE STATES OF NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA AND SOUTHERN NEVADA. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT, REPRESENTS ABOUT 3% DECLINE FROM LAST YEAR. SOME FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. SHORT AMOUNT OF TIMES THAT WE'RE BEING ALLOWED TO STAND AT LOCATIONS, SOME DEPARTMENT STORES CHANGING THEIR POLICY ON WHETHER WE CAN BE THERE OR NOT. SO YOU PUT THAT TOGETHER AND WITH THE ECONOMY THAT DOES REPRESENT SOMEWHAT OF A DECLINE.

Jose Cardenas: GINNY, SPEAKING OF THE ECONOMY, WHILE YOUR REP NEWS AS I UNDERSTAND -- REVENUES WERE BASICALLY FLAT, DEMAND HAS GOTTEN MUCH GREATER.

Ginny Hildebrand: RIGHT. OUR FOOD BANKS ARE SEEING MORE PEOPLE COMING TO THEIR AGENCIES AND TO THEM DIRECTLY. WHAT WE HAVE ALSO SEEN IS SOME OF THE FOOD DONATIONS NOT QUITE COMING IN AT THE SAME LEVEL WE HAD HOPED. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT PEOPLE AREN'T BEING GENEROUS WITH WHAT THEY HAVE. I THINK THE CORPORATE COMMUNITY AND RETAIL GROCERS, FOR INSTANCE, GROWERS, PACKERS AND SHIPPERS IN OUR STATE HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUSLY GENEROUS. BUT THEIR POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR MANAGING THEIR BUSINESSES HAVE TIGHTENED UP THEIR INVENTORY HAS TIGHTENED UP THE WAY THEY DISTRIBUTE FOOD SO THEY DON'T HAVE AS MUCH TO GIVE, SO WE'RE FORCED TO LOOK AT OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN FILL THOSE FOOD ORDERS WHETHER IT'S THE SALVATION ARMY OR ST. VINCENT DE PAUL OR OTHER LOCAL AGENCIES WITH THE FOOD TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY. WE HAVE NEEDED TO PURCHASE MORE FOOD IN THE LAST TWO YEARS THAN IN THE PAST. SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FOOD THAT WE HAVE IS SPREAD AS EQUITABLY AS WE CAN.

Jose Cardenas: ONE OF THE ISSUES YOU HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH MAY HAVE BEEN RESOLVED WITH THE LEGISLATION JUST PASSED IN WASHINGTON, THE SO-CALLED FISCAL CLIFF LEGISLATION, WHICH INCLUDED AN EXTENSION OF -- FARM BILL?

Ginny Hildebrand: THE FARM BILL REAUTHORIZATION. IT EXTENDED THE 2008 FARM BILL THROUGH SEPTEMBER OF THIS CURRENT YEAR THAT WE'RE IN NOW. 2013.

Jose Cardenas: WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE PRICE OF MILK NOT GOING UP ASTRONOMICALLY. THERE ARE OTHER IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THAT.

Ginny Hildebrand: OTHER PROGRAMS IN THE FARM BILL ARE THINGS LIKE THE SNAP PROGRAM, USED TO BE CALLED FOOD STAMPS. ANY OF THE COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS LIKE COMMODITIES FAMILIES MAY GET THAT QUALIFY THROUGH FOOD BANKS. THOSE PROGRAMS WERE ALL REAUTHORIZED LAST NIGHT WITH THE PASSAGE OF THAT LEGISLATION. THAT'S A GOOD THING. WHAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IS GOING FORWARD NOW IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS THAT THE BUDGET BILLS DON'T CUT THOSE PROGRAMS BACK OR DON'T TRIM THE ELIGIBILITY IN SOME WAY.

Jose Cardenas: SHANNON IF DEDUCTIONS WERE CAPPED. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT WHAT ULTIMATELY CAME DOWN?

Shannon Clancy: I THINK THAT THE MAJORITY OF YOUR AVERAGE DONOR, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO BE GENEROUS AND GIVE WHAT THEY HAVE. THE CHALLENGE WAS IF THEY LIMITED THOSE, AND THERE WEEKEND -- THE REASON THAT PEOPLE GIVE ISN'T ALWAYS DUE TO GETTING THAT DEDUCTION ON THEIR TAXES BUT THAT'S AN INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO GIVE.

Jose Cardenas: THEY HAVE MANY POSED LIMITATIONS.

Shannon Clancy: AT A HIGHER LEVEL FOR LARGER -- FOR THE UPPER --

Jose Cardenas: INSTEAD OF JUST A CAP ON ALL YOUR DEDUCTIONS IT'S MORE OF A SLIDING SCALE?

Shannon Clancy: I DON'T THINK THEY PUT A LIMIT ON WHAT WILL IMPACT THE MAJORITY OF DONORS. AT ST. VINCENT DE PAUL I WOULD SAY WE ARE BASED ON COMMUNITY OF GIVES. WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF DONORS WHO GIVE LITTLE BITS, GIVE WHAT THEY CAN. I DON'T THINK THAT THAT WILL IMPACT THOSE ONGOING DONATION STREAM THAT WE RELY ON TO DO OUR WORK. OUR HOPE WOULD BE THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE AS GENEROUS AS THEY CAN. THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THINGS HAVE BEEN HARD FOR EVERYONE, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT PEOPLE HAVE -- WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE ECONOMY AND THEY HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE, SO PEOPLE LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, I CAN DO -- I'M IN A POSITION TO DO WHAT I CAN. MAYBE IT'S NOT AS MUCH AS I DID A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO BUT I STILL WANT TO HELP. I TALK TO DOZENS OF PEOPLE THAT SAY, HERE'S WHAT I CAN DO. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION. I KNOW YOU DO GOOD WORK AT ST. VINCENT DE PAUL AND I WANT TO HELP AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN IN THE COMMUNITY.

Jose Cardenas: COLONEL, WE JUST HAVE 30 SECONDS. ONE OF THE GROUPS THAT SEEMS TO HAVE GREATER NEEDS IS VETERANS. 17

Colonel Posillico: YOU KNOW, WE WORK A LOT WITH THE VETERANS IN TERMS OF REHABILITATION PROGRAMS. WE OPERATE FOUR REHAB CENTERS BETWEEN NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA. SO WE'RE WORKING A LOT WITH THEM TRYING TO TRANSFORM --

Jose Cardenas: YOU'RE SEEING MORE OF THEM?

Colonel Posillico: YES. WE HAVE WAITING LISTS AT SOME OF THESE FACILITIES.

Jose Cardenas: ON THAT OMINOUS NOTE, BUT I KNOW YOU ALL ARE DOING AS BEST YOU CAN, WE'RE DONE WITH OUR INTERVIEW FOR TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT. I'M JOSE CARDENAS. HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

Shannon Clancy:Director of Development, Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Phoenix; Colonel Joe Posillico:Southwest Divisional Commander, City of Phoenix Salvation Army; Ginny Hildebrand:President and CEO, Association of Arizona Food Banks;

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