News
Red Cross Struggles, Funding Needed to 'Meet Mission'
Sep 16, 2009
Red Cross Chapter struggles
Terry L. Jones
American Staff Writer tjones@hattiesburgamerican.com
Since Hurricane Katrina tore through South Mississippi four years ago, officials with the South Central Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross say the amount of disaster relief services it provides to the nine counties it serves has grown substantially.
Just last year, chapter volunteers responded to more than 200 fires and provided more than $90,000 in direct assistance to those fire families, according to Janice Vannatta, executive director of the South Central Mississippi chapter.
But now the tables have turned and the non-profit organization is relying on the same communities it has serviced to answer its call for help as well as the economic downturn, and expanding needs presents new challenges this year.
"The American Red Cross relies on donor dollars," Vannatta said. "And we make every dollar count."
This year, the chapter's coverage expanded with the addition of Pike, Lincoln and Lawrence counties within its coverage area because the Mid-South chapter of the American Red Cross forfeited its charter.
But the addition in coverage also came with a cut in federal funding.
"Some of the funding sources that were grant-related are no longer available, so we're looking to fill that funding gap," Vannatta said.
She said the grants helped the chapter hire the additional staff it needed post Katrina. The south central chapter is currently staffed with eight full-timers and four part-time employees, she said.
"Those grants have now ended, but I'm determined to keep those staff members on board because they are critical to our mission," she said.
The chapter also lost an additional $32,000 in funding it received from the United Way of Southeast Mississippi this year, Vannatta said.
Partly because the United Way fell short of its 2009 campaign funding raise goal, said Dan Kibodeaux, executive director of the United Way of Southeast Mississippi.
"Our home raffle ticket sales were also down from the previous year," Kibodeaux added.
The United Way is a primary funding source to 21 local non-profits agencies in the Pine Belt area.
"The reduction in funding was not because our agencies weren't cutting it," Kibodeaux said. "But overall there is less money in the economy right now to go around."
Vannatta said because of the economic downturn, the chapter's 2010 fiscal year budget will mirror the previous year's $900,000.
The American Red Cross' fiscal year begins July 1 and ends June 30.
She added the chapter has not had to make any cuts yet either like many across the state.
Last week, Vannatta asked the Forrest County Board of Supervisors for a $10,000 increase in funding to the South Central Mississippi chapter. The board already contributes $2,500 a year to the agency.
And she said Monday she has made similar requests to each of the governmental entities within the chapter's 12-county area.
"Each government agency provides a different amount," Vannatta said. "(And) some have actually increased their amounts, and we're grateful for that."
But it seems highly unlikely elected officials in Forrest County will be following suit.
"There are a lot of people hurting out there, but we're in difficult times," District 5 Supervisor Chris Bowen told Vannatta. "I know I won't be voting for a $10,000 increase."
And Hattiesburg City Council President Kim Bradley echoed those sentiments.
Bradley said Monday the council didn't approve any funding increases in its 2010 fiscal year budget to the local and private agencies it supports.
Which leaves Vannatta to place her faith in the community it supports to help the chapter maintain its mission.
"We have a wonderful community," she said. "And each of the counties have been very supportive. We just have to continue to reach out to all of our communities like we always have to make them realize the funding that is necessary to help us meet the mission."
Additional Facts
To make an online contribution, visit http://www.redcross-scms.org/
Volunteer Ray Miller loads boxes into the bed of his truck for the local American Red Cross chapter to use in an emergency response situation at the South Central American Red Cross warehouse Monday afternoon. Janice Vannatta, executive director for the non-profit organization, hopes additional funding can help the Red Cross sustain the disaster relief services it provides to the 12 counties it serves. (Erin Parker | Hattiesburg American)
