Evidence that our community desperately needs economic stimulus came from some unusual sources recently.
Last Friday, the Chatham-Kent United Way announced it fell 15% short of its $2.2-million goal, joining the Salvation Army, which earlier in the month concluded its $450,000 kettle campaign with a 10% shortfall.
It’s important to note that although both groups are trying to find ways to overcome the deficit, the lack of funding will hurt real people and the programs that serve them.
The goals set by charitable organizations are done with community needs in mind; the numbers aren’t made up on a whim.
It’s a real concern that Chatham-Kent may have reached a tipping point; if not in its will to give, then in its ability to meet the needs of those who require help.
It is an unfortunate fact that as more people need help, there are generally fewer who remain to give it.
The reasons for Ontario’s decline from Canada’s economic engine to one which receives billions in federal transfer payments as a “have not” province are the subject of debate at higher levels of government, but the effects are felt locally.
Chatham-Kent’s twin economic drivers of yesteryear were manufacturing and agriculture, and while agriculture remains, manufacturing is still finding its way back from a near-death experience.
On the local government front, we need to make sure we are keeping Chatham-Kent’s cause and needs in front of federal and provincial politicians. The statistics on unemployment and social assistance are the tools we can use to push the cause forward, but we need to be relentless in our efforts to get the help we need now.
The challenges facing those on the local services front is to redouble efforts aimed at coordinating and maximizing aid to those who need it.
Regardless of what efforts are undertaken by government and business, the economic situation isn’t going to change overnight, however for those who lack food, money and shelter, tonight is what they have to deal with.
Well said, Jim.
It would be interesting to compare the amounts given by the current top employers( as well noting the number of employees and the average salaries) I think you would find a major disparity between the public and private sector employers and to also note that the public sector is quite unionized
Everyone did a great job: the agencies, the charities and the public. Everyone pulled together in meeting the goals to sustain the much needed services that support the CK community. The only thing is that the job lose and the closing of some long term entities around CK didn't help at all. I bow.
Honestly, in this last year… donors became service users. THAT tells you something. Hopefully the CK will pick themselves up and grow again.
In a period of deflation that we are moving deeper into, troubles of this nature will only be more pronounced. Money is the lubricant of commerce, when people don't have it or fear losing it and thus do not spend it, deflation follows. The Great Depression was so terrible because no one had money, even if they had goods and services, no one would purchase them. A local currency might help alleviate some of this shortfall by allowing for the purchase of goods and services that charities need or allow for them to pay part of their wages in. People are cash strapped and this is one more example of it.
You think? It took all this time to figure that out?