Aid group doesn’t break stride

The seventh annual Spring Chicken Run is on for March 28 at Macland Presbyterian Church in Powder Springs. In today’s economic climate, run co-director Carla Pierce feared they might have to cancel the “race against hunger” this year.

“We expected that corporate sponsorship was going to be down, because so many businesses are struggling and wouldn’t be able to contribute as they have in the past,” Pierce said. Runner-registration fees cover event expenses, but corporate giving has made the run more successful every year.

“We started this race as a mission project because we knew it would directly help people in our community, and because we wanted to raise awareness about the good work of Sweetwater Valley Community Action Mission Program. It’s done both,” Pierce said.

The race is a fun family event for the community, but it’s serious business to Sweetwater Valley CAMP, an emergency relief agency that has served south Cobb County for 40 years. Last year, the Spring Chicken Run raised $8,325 —- $6,500 from corporate gifts —- for the nonprofit organization.

A coalition of local churches founded Sweetwater Valley CAMP in 1968 to supply clothing, food and funds to people in emergency situations. It quickly gained support from civic and community organizations. “In 2001, we were able to purchase a 20,000-square-foot building that Atlanta West Carpet sold us at a reduced price. In 2005, we fitted out 6,000 square feet of space for the Community Health Center, a low-cost medical and dental clinic,” said Darlene Duke, executive director.

Thanks to grants, donations and fund-raising, the small staff and 130 volunteers were able to give out 460,000 pounds of food, 80,000 articles of clothing and $91,000 to help people pay for rent, utilities or medicine in 2008. They’ve recently partnered with Cobb Works, which parks its mobile unit with computers in the parking lot every Monday, to help clients find jobs. “CAMP’s philosophy has always been to prevent homelessness before it happens,” Pierce said.

Like most basic-needs charities, Sweetwater Valley CAMP is seeing a drastic rise in demand for its services at a time when many of its community donors are struggling to give.

“We’re seeing a 40 percent increase in the families who have applied for assistance,” Duke said. “Normally, we serve 350 to 400 families a month, but we’re helping about 750 now. We had put money away for a time like this, but we’re spending more than we’re bringing in and operating on reserves. This year’s race is more important than ever.”

Fortunately, companies such as Aaron’s Sales and Lease Ownership in Mableton, Atlanta West Carpet in Lithia Springs, West Cobb Chiropractic in Powder Springs and others are stepping up to the plate.

Aaron’s was the sole platinum sponsor ($1,500) for the Spring Chicken Run last year and is going platinum again this year.

“My family and some of our employees have volunteered at CAMP for about four years now,” Aaron’s general manager John Wagner said. “Seeing the needs in the community, we decided to up the ante of our support last year. Quite honestly, when I visited the facility, I liked what they were doing. I knew it was good for the community and when you read their newsletter, it’s impossible not to want to help,” he said.

That’s how Dale Yake, founder and CEO of PT Solutions, feels when he looks into the eyes of arthritis patients who come to him for physical therapy. His practice has supported the Arthritis Foundations in Georgia, Florida and Alabama. He plans to continue the firm’s donations, advocacy efforts in Washington, and participation in fund-raising walks with patients’ families and staff.

“We’ve been blessed that our business hasn’t suffered as much as some industries and we haven’t had to make layoffs, but we’re restraining our expenses as much as anyone,” Yake said. “Still, I feel like we need to continue to give to those organizations that help others and do it right.”

He noted that about 85 cents of every dollar the Arthritis Foundation receives is spent on research and supportive programs. “People don’t stop hurting because the economy is bad, so it’s our civic duty to continue to step up to the plate.”

According to the LBG Research Institute’s January report on corporate giving (Doing More with Less: How the Economic Downturn Will Impact Corporate Giving in 2009), the majority of corporations and corporate foundations anticipate no change in donations this year, but 42 percent of corporations and 37 percent of corporate foundations said they would have to scale back their giving budgets.