Unintended consequences of high gas prices
Gas guzzling nonprofits’ money
When gas prices go up, nonprofits get nervous. Charities that rely heavily on transportation — such as Meals on Wheels and More and the Capital Area Food Bank — always set aside money for gas. But the more they pay for fuel, the less they have to help needy people.
“That’s money we can’t spend on meals,” said Dan Pruett, president of Meals on Wheel and More.
It’s been four years since gas prices began climbing toward $3 a gallon.
In June 2003, the daily average for a gallon of regular gasoline in Austin was $1.35, according to AAA Texas. By 2004, the average had jumped to $1.88.
Now, gas hovers around $2.84 — eight cents higher than a year ago. And the Capital Area Food Bank is feeling it.
About 75 percent of the Food Bank’s supplies are shipped into Austin from out of state. Between October and April, the nonprofit paid $165,558 in freight costs to trucking companies, $16,659 more than the previous six months.
That money could have paid for 83,295 meals.
“It’s definitely affecting us,” said Michael Guerra, chief operating officer of the Capital Area Food Bank.
Meals on Wheels, meanwhile, is having trouble getting enough volunteers to deliver meals to elderly clients. Two weeks ago, the nonprofit had 30 delivery routes needing volunteers. Now there are 53. That means staffers have to deliver those meals.
Gas prices are definitely part of the problem, Pruett said.
“A fair number of our volunteers live on fixed incomes,” he said. “We have people on Social Security delivering to people on Social Security.”
Another sad consequence of the rising gas prices. I don’t have an answer, I just wanted to highlight it so everyone is aware. A little more money going in to Meals on Wheels and programs like it is needed with the higher gas prices. My mother volunteered for Meals on Wheels oh so many years ago and found it to be incredibly rewarding. If you have some time give them a call and take a route even if for a day. Yes, of course they would prefer long term or even short term commitments but something is better than nothing.
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Filed under: Charity
