Report: Charities struggling to keep up with need

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The IU Center on Philanthropy issued its report on holiday giving Wednesday. The survey indicates that charities are facing a very tough fundraising climate. Many non-profits report giving is not keeping pace with the requests for assistance.

One exception may be the Salvation Army . On Wednesday, workers and volunteers shopped for toys at a Walmart on Lafayette Road. They were preparing for Toy Shop - the annual toy giveaway for needy families.

The Salvation Army spent $12,000 on that toy shopping trip. It's money generous Hoosiers put in kettles during the WISH-TV collection at a Colts game as well as money donated to the WISH Tree and Angel Tree campaigns. Hoosiers also gave 9,000 toys - almost a thousand more than last year.

"It's tremendous, especially in this economy, the fact that people really stepped up and gave this year," said Crissy Testa of the Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army's success may be the exception this holiday season. While the IU Center on Philanthropy reports charities are cautiously optimistic, most are struggling to meet their goals.

United Christmas Service has seen a 25 percent increase the number of requests for Christmas assistance. Their phones ring incessantly.

"People who contributed last year, this year have had to come in and say we really need help," said Ron Pearson, chairperson of the campaign.

The charity must raise $240,000 in a week and find folks to adopt 570 needy families to reach their fundraising goals. Pearson adopts a family every year.

"I don't think my kids remember a Christmas without doing this and I hope that after I'm gone they carry it on," said Pearson.

As for The Salvation Army, it has reached its goal for toy shop, but their annual tree of lights campaign is far from over. The organization has raised 44 percent of its $3 million goal.