Anchorage Daily News

WASILLA -- Charitable organizations in the Mat-Su are reporting generous donations despite national worries the ongoing recession would hammer giving along with jobs and bank accounts.

But local agencies say they also see more people needing help.

At the Food Bank in Palmer, the number of community members donating groceries is up this year. So is everything else.

"Fuel costs are higher, landlords are raising rents, unemployment," said manager Henry Guinotte. "I've seen people coming in. I can tell they have never had to come to any organization with their hand out before. They're real apologetic about it."

Guinotte describes some of the newcomers: An elderly couple who spent their Social Security checks moving to Alaska from the Northwest and got here with nothing. A family of 10 who don't speak English. Scores of clients who need help with rent and utilities.

The Food Bank supplies some rent money but only if tenants prove they can make rent the next month, Guinotte said. He instructs anyone asking for help to go through other channels first -- energy assistance programs, food stamps or other state help.

"We practice tough love here but we help as many as we can," he said.

A November report by The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University found that giving slows when the economy does. Most households keep giving in times of financial insecurity, though households earning less than $50,000 a year tend to stop, the philanthropy report said.

Those national trends don't seem to be at play here, several agencies said.

Over at Wasilla's Treasure Loft thrift store, community generosity is evident in a dozen garbage bags stuffed to overflowing with donated coats. The store, owned and operated by Mat-Valley Community Charities Agency, started a coat drive this fall.

"There's been no slowdown for us," said John Rozzi, the nonprofit agency's chief executive. "At the same time, our donations going out have increased."

Already, staff have given away six bags, plus another 50 bags for inmates at Palmer Correctional Center in Sutton, Rozzi said.

The agency increased its community donations by about $13,000 this year compared to last, Rozzi estimated. That includes $5,000 in store vouchers to recipients screened by other entities such as Wasilla's Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, the donated coats and a $3,100 donation to Alaska Family Services.

The same trend -- more contributions, more need -- holds true for The Salvation Army. The national Christian nonprofit runs its Valley operation out of a church in Palmer and operates a thrift store in Wasilla.

Around the state, giving to Salvation Army bell-ringers or gift and toy boxes was up from last year, said spokeswoman Jenni Raglund. So were requests for help.

One generous volunteer working at the organization's Palmer church Christmas Eve saw that two dozen families had just arrived in hopes of receiving a food box.

The volunteer ran out and bought 20 turkeys "so everyone who came in need received help," Raglund said in an e-mail.

Find Zaz Hollander online at adn.com/contact/zhollander or call 352-6711.

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