Shortfall hits United Way

By Sharon Salyer

Herald Writer

With United Way’s annual fund drive expected to fall about $1.2 million short, 52 area nonprofit organizations — in essence Snohomish County’s social service safety net — are bracing for cuts as large as 25 percent that could hit them by the end of the month.

United Way board members will meet today to decide what to do. Without more money, though, their options are limited: possibly extending the fund drive about another month — to March 31 — to try and narrow the shortfall or tapping United Way reserves.

Representatives of several local social service organizations said that if the cuts are as big as United Way officials warned they might be in recent meetings, it will mean fewer people will be served at a time of great need. Washington has the nation’s second-highest unemployment rate, which is placing heavy demands for help on many of these agencies.

"It puts our capacity to serve our most vulnerable citizens at risk in terms of meeting their basic needs — youth, seniors citizens, employment support — all the programs United Way funds across the board," said Rebecca Roby, Snohomish County regional director for YWCA Pathways for Women.

"That safety net is at risk," she added. "I’ve never seen anything that’s quite as drastic and quick as this feels."

Al Boren, vice president for planning and development for YMCA of Snohomish County, said that for the county’s larger social service agencies the cuts would mean cutbacks to programs, services and positions.

For other, smaller agencies, heavily dependent on United Way funding, the results may be more drastic.

"I think five to six (small) United Way agencies are in immediate jeopardy," Boren said.

Overall, the United Way campaign has raised $10 million, about 10 percent less than last year, said Brent Stewart, president.

This loss is compounded by another trend: more donors are choosing to earmark their donations to specific local organizations, rather than giving to the "community care campaign" — a pot of money shared among the 52 local nonprofits.

With contributions to that fund appearing to have dropped about 25 percent this year, United Way officials called a series of meetings with leaders of the affected organizations to warn that substantial cuts could be in the offing.

Boren recalled the stunned silence at one of those meetings: "United Way is one of the partnerships in the community that has always felt very reliable," she said. "Seeing the campaign go down was a shock."

One of the biggest potential hits — $160,000 — would be at Volunteers of America, which receives United Way funding for 10 of its 17 programs, including the food distribution warehouse that helps supply food banks throughout Snohomish County.

"It’s going to be devastating," said Gilbert Saparto, chief executive. The cut potentially could affect the organization’s ability to distribute food at its warehouse.

"You’ll start seeing lines at the food bank," he said.

The organization already took a $172,000 cut from United Way in July, forcing a cut in hours at the Everett Food Bank and its Community Information Line, among others, he added.

At YWCA Pathways for Women, the cut could reach $50,000, or about $8,000 a month beginning at the end of this month, Roby said.

"That’s on top of the increasing needs (for shelter and assistance) as the weather gets colder," she said. "This is our busiest time."

YMCA of Snohomish County is facing a $63,000 cut in a year in which two of three programs for middle school students — those in Everett and Monroe — already have been abolished.

In Monroe, the East County Senior Center is facing a $2,000 a month deficit for the next six months, said Andrea Hansen, executive director, and is considering a mass membership drive in hopes of finding 800 people willing to pay $15 for a membership to help cover the costs.

At the South Everett Youth and Community Center, director Beth Kerwin said, "We’re doing everything in our power" to keep the center from closing, despite a projected United Way cut of $9,263. The organization will seek grants, contributions from foundations and fund raising to help make up the difference, she said.

Compass Health uses United Way dollars to give mental health and counseling assistance to those who have no money or not enough money to cover charges, spokeswoman Susan Fox said.

"They’ll end up not getting services or end up at the hospital emergency room, psychiatric wards and jails," Fox said. "That is cost-shifting to a more expensive way of providing services."

The projected cuts of 25 percent are for the total allocated to the agency for the year. But since the cuts are being condensed into the last six months of the budget year, some agencies argue that in effect this compounds into a 50 percent cut over what they would have gotten during the same six-month period.

Steps such as extending United Way’s fund drive or tapping reserve funds could "help mitigate some of the pain" of the cuts, Stewart said, but he added that he didn’t think it would be enough to eliminate cuts.

"It’s not just that United Way didn’t meet its goal," Stewart said. "It means that people in the community are going to be hurting at a time when, quite frankly, we need more money. When the economy is in the state we’re in, there’s a greater need for services and programs."

Stewart said he understands that the current economic uncertainties have made it difficult for many people to make donations. Nonetheless, Stewart said he hopes the community can rally behind the need.

"We’re not giving up," he said.

You can call Herald Writer Sharon Salyer at 425-339-3486

or send e-mail to salyer@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

A view of a homes in Edmonds, Washington on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County to mail property tax statements this month

First half payments are due on April 30.

Ticket and ORCA card kiosks at the Lynnwood Light Rail station on Thursday, April 4, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Beginning March 1, Community Transit to reduce some fares

Riders eligible for reduced fares will pay $1 for a single ORCA card tap and $36 for a monthly pass.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

The amphitheater at Deception Pass during the 2021 concert series. (Photo provided by Deception Pass Park Foundation Facebook page.)
Deception Pass Foundation seeks Adopt-A-Trail volunteers

If you’re looking for a way to get outside and… Continue reading

A pedestrian is struck and killed by vehicle Wednesday in Everett

The pedestrian was a man in his 60s. The collision happened at 5:30 a.m. on Broadway.

Want coffee? Drink some with the Marysville mayor.

A casual question-and-answer session between mayor and constituents is planned for March 24.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.