Isle aloha stretched thin - The Honolulu Advertiser

Isle aloha stretched thin - The Honolulu Advertiser: "Isle aloha stretched thin

By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

Giving to local nonprofit groups is down from last year, and officials are worried that services to local needy families might be cut back.

The reduced donations are being attributed to the unprecedented relief efforts in the wake of natural disasters including Hurricane Katrina, which are siphoning off food and money that normally would go to local groups.

Officials from Aloha United Way, the Salvation Army, the Hawai'i Foodbank and the Institute for Human Services say donations are down from 2 percent to as much as 40 percent, making it harder for nonprofit organizations to pay for programs and payrolls."