To the editor:

The South Whidbey economy is not healthy. Many of our neighbors are in need. The experience of the caseworkers at Helping Hand is that an abnormal number of South Whidbey residents are facing financial hardships.

The financial difficulties facing many South Whidbey residents appear to be a combination of many factors. These include a lack of affordable housing. Rent that is out of line with the relatively low wages paid in service and tourist related businesses. The recent increase in gas prices is another contributing factor. Compounding problems for 2007-2008 was the temporary shutdown of the Nichols Brothers operation.

Helping Hand of South Whidbey is a coalition of nine South Whidbey churches and has been in existence for 26 years. The organization distributes donated funds to our brothers and sisters in need.

This assistance most frequently is one-time assistance for rent and energy bills. Only 5 percent of recipients reapply for additional assistance.

Helping Hand has helped many families and individuals get through a financial crisis, avoid eviction or a power disconnect.

Helping Hand’s revenue sources include donations from churches, other South Whidbey faith groups, community organizations, foundation and church grants, and individual donors. However, Helping Hand, like many not-for-profits, finds that while the need for assistance has increased, donations have decreased.

Helping Hand has experienced yearly increases in the number of people served, but this year the percent of increase has been much greater than previous years. The numbers are such that Helping Hand funds as of Sept. 5 are nearly depleted. From January through August of 2008 Helping Hand has distributed $33,713 in assistance. In 2007 during the same period Helping Hand distributed $23,130 to those in need.

Summer is normally a good economic time for South Whidbey, but the number of individuals seeking assistance this July has been unprecedented.

Helping Hand is a Christian organization and the funds that Helping Hand caseworkers distribute come only from non-government revenue sources. Only 7 percent of Helping Hand’s budget is administrative. The remaining 93 percent of the funds goes to assist people in need.

Helping Hand needs donations to help us carry forth our mission to help the least of our brothers and sisters. Donations to Helping Hand of South Whidbey may be mailed to Helping Hand, PO Box 661, Langley 98260 or hand delivered to the Helping Hand office at the House of Hope, 816 Camano Ave. across from the fairgrounds in Langley.

Dick Hall

Helping Hand caseworker