A Fuel Surcharge for Families in Need?

Consumers on a daily basis, seem to be feeling the overwhelming effects of the high price of energy these days. The sticker shock at the grocery store, the pump, the increased cost of public transportation, the high cost of electricity and home heating fuel. Every time I get a bill now I'm looking for the dreaded FUEL SURCHARGE.

Many businesses, if they want to stay in business, choose to pass on the additional burden to the consumer, including those in need. What do nonprofits like NAM do in times like these? NAM has already exceeded budgeted food costs this year due to the increased demand for food by area families seeking to stretch their shrinking buying power. Each month, our numbers have increased by more than 17% while food and cash donations have not kept pace. We see no end in sight as we continue to get calls from companies that have supported us in the past asking how we can help help their employees who are struggling to make ends meet.

Our energy costs here at NAM have increased significantly higher than we budgeted along with much of our operational costs such as insurance, maintenance, etc. Charitable organizations, unlike their for profit counterparts, cannot add an energy surcharge to the goods and services they provide to those in need in order to stay in business. Moreover, the impact on our employees has been significant as they struggle to figure out how to make the same paycheck cover the increased costs being passed on to them.

Doing business in this economy is challenging at best and the old way of doing business must change for everyone, including nonprofits like NAM. NAM has always been a cutting edge organization that prides itself on being a good steward of the support it receives from the community. As a socially responsible organization, we must continually strive to find more efficient, effective ways of providing much needed services to our community.

A recent review of our operations revealed that by scheduling the forty hour work week over four days versus five days, then closing the facility to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays would yield a potential $150,000+ in annual savings while providing much needed relief to our employees who would only be reducing their work related expenses by 20 per cent.

By extending our work day, we could provide early morning and early evening services to many who previously struggled to leave work to keep an appointment or didn't want to pull their children out of school for a well child check up while more fully utilizing our facility which is open from 6:30 a.m. - 10:00 P.M. daily.

While no decision has been made as of yet,we have the support of the Executive Board and staff. Many of our congregations have been extremely supportive as well since they too see the need for NAM to find new ways to serve in this challenging economic climate.

We will continue to seek input and feedback from the community and hope to announce our decision by the end of this month.

Stay tuned,
Carole