Bay charities losing their fight for donations

Tauranga's community foodbank is facing its toughest Christmas in 14 years because too many charities are competing for donations in the Bay.
Foodbank chairman Don Brebner said in the next four months, the centre desperately needed a $16,000 cash injection so it can keep providing meat and vegetables to hundreds of needy Bay families.
The foodbank's struggle illustrates an emerging trend in our community. More organisations are competing for the charity dollar and many have to run like businesses in order to stay afloat.
One example at the weekend was the Child Cancer's fishing tournament fundraiser which had to be cancelled because of a lack of public support.
Some are even hiring people specifically to co-ordinate their fundraising strategies and events.
Mr Brebner said the foodbank normally had enough money for perishable items - "but this year is different".
"With more charities seeking grants and donations from shrinking sources, foodbank's share has shrunk by 10 per cent for the past two years and for the items that we buy, we have had to pay more," he said.
"We are asking kind-hearted people and organisations out there to remember the foodbank and to help out the 500-600 families a month who will also go short."
Five other non-profit organisations contacted by the Bay of Plenty Times confirmed the Western Bay fundraising market was becoming increasingly competitive.
One massive cause launched this year, the Bay of Plenty Times -supported Project Hope, aims to raise $2 million for the construction of a new cancer centre in Tauranga.
Bay Health Foundation chief executive Lynette Davies, overseeing Project Hope, said the campaign was run "like a business" because big events meant big money.
"People are looking to smarter ways of doing it. We have got to think bigger," she said.
Ms Davies said people were faced with a wide choice of where to donate and unfortunately the charity dollar could not stretch to every organisation.
That point was clearly illustrated last Sunday when a fundraising event supporting children with cancer bombed because there was not enough support from the public.
The Child Cancer Foundation fishing competition attracted only 25 participants keen to donate and take part. I t was one of three events held in the Western Bay that day to raise money for cancer.
A planned Breast Cancer Support Service sailing regatta was postponed because of bad weather and the charity half marathon was held on behalf of Project Hope.
The CCF fishing competition was profiled in the Bay of Plenty Times and offered prizes - but they were not enough to lure boaties to the challenge.
CCF fundraising co-ordinator Sandy Broadhurst said it was difficult to compete with other charitable organisations while keeping costs low.
"The outlay is not huge but the idea would be to make money and that didn't happen."
She said strategic research would be conducted before the event was held again next year.
Meanwhile, Foodbank vice-president Barry Steele said the Dive Cres centre usually struggles at this time of year but stocks have never been this low in the organisation's 14 year history.
"I am worried about it. We've been close before but never quite this close. I am sure that the generosity of people will rise to the occasion."
He was appealing for individuals to come forward with donations of money or food to help out the 60-strong volunteer crew.
If the money was not raised, families would go without meat and vegetables in their food parcels but would get non-perishable foods such as canned goods and pasta.