GILROY
– Due to record-low donation levels, the American Red Cross
Service Center in Gilroy is drastically cutting back its service
hours, which may mean a longer wait for families seeking assistance
from the nonprofit organization.
By Lori Stuenkel
GILROY – Due to record-low donation levels, the American Red Cross Service Center in Gilroy is drastically cutting back its service hours, which may mean a longer wait for families seeking assistance from the nonprofit organization.
“We’ve been hit hard,” said Elia Garcia, coordinator at the service center in Gilroy. “I have to schedule (cases) as tight as I can … but I can’t get to all of them right away.”
Beginning Aug. 11, the center on Monterey Road will be open from 8 a.m. to noon on Mondays only, rather than five days a week. The center will continue to hold bi-monthly CPR classes on Saturdays.
Many of the cases in Gilroy involve families seeking rental assistance, Garcia said. Once Garcia evaluates a case, it is processed at the Santa Clara Valley Chapter in San Jose. The length of time it takes to fully process a case is expected to increase by a few days.
The reduction in hours is part of the cutbacks suffered by the Red Cross nationally. The Red Cross Santa Clara Valley Chapter, which services Gilroy, made its most significant cutbacks in December since it opened in 1916. Donations to local chapters and the national Disaster Relief Fund have been declining steadily since Sept. 11, 2001.
“We are operating at a deficit budget,” said Chris Ott, director of marketing and communications for the Santa Clara Valley Chapter. “We are spending more than we are taking in from donations.”
Last December, 20 percent of the chapter’s work force was laid off, Ott said.
The chapter’s reserve fund now contains about $1.5 million, whereas a “safe” level would be $3 million. The national disaster relief fund has been depleted, while a safe level is about $56 million.
In the case of a major disaster in Gilroy, such as a fire or earthquake, emergency services would be paid for from the local chapter’s disaster relief fund. The 30 volunteers based at the Gilroy service center will continue to respond to any disasters, Garcia said.
Employees will struggle to maintain their caseload if donations do not increase, Ott said.
Garcia agreed, saying she is already feeling the strain.
“We’re all doing the jobs of three or four people now,” she said.
Those in need may call the Red Cross Hotline to prevent homelessness at:
(408) 577-2114.
Donations to the Santa Clara Valley Chapter may be made by calling (408) 577-1000 or on the chapter’s Web site at: www.santaclaravalley.
redcross.org
