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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Time, Income Crunch Crowding Out Charity As Incomes Shrink, Parents Struggle To Find Time For Their Own Families

Knigh-Ridder

Conservative pundits are coming up with complicated reasons to explain a four year decline in charitable giving and volunteering.

Some speculate the decline is related to people opting to file the short income tax form, which doesn’t allow for charitable deductions. Without tax deductions, they say, people tend to give less.

Others blame it on government welfare programs and their growth.

Perhaps there are simpler, less complicated reasons: Too little money and too little time.

Millions of workers complain they are not earning enough money to provide for themselves and families but they’re working harder and longer.

They say they are overworked, stressed out and have little time to deal with life jobs much less spend time with family or friends.

“Ninety percent of our families have seen depressed income over the last decade,” says Virginia Hodgkinson, researcher at Independent Sector, a coalition of 800 volunteer organizations and foundations.

“Although giving has declined in the amount of dollars it has declined very little in the percent of household income given. People are maintaining their same effort, it’s just that they have less income.”

So it’s understandable why people might be willing to forego some of those warm, fuzzy feelings they usually get from donating time and money.

Workers across the country say it’s a constant struggle to find time to spend with spouses and children - and from most accounts many of them are failing miserably.

These workers say both parents must hold down full-time jobs requiring long hours just to keep a roof over the family’s head and food on the table. A majority of parents leave or drop children off at child care centers as early as 6 a.m. or 7 a.m.

Those fortunate enough to have in-home child care say their situation isn’t a whole lot better.

President Clinton noted this plight of the middle class in an interview for Money magazine’s May issue.

“The middle class is splitting apart based on people’s skill levels and (the types of jobs they have.) It’s no wonder people are anxiety-ridden. Americans are working harder, sleeping an hour a night less than 25 years ago, spending less time with their kids, and yet they keep reading all these good economic numbers. Well, they ask, when is it going to make me happy? When will I feel more secure about my health care? Will I be able to send my kid to college? When do I get a raise?”

People are not only giving less to charities but they are not giving to professional organizations at the same rate either - organizations that once were considered an important aspect of networking and professional development.

Until people begin to earn more, organizations asking for donations will continue to hear:

Donate time - when do I have any?

Donate money - when will I earn enough?