EDITOR'S NOTE: After riding a wave of prosperity, Maui County residents are struggling to cope with a recession that has swept through the islands. In The Maui News' series about the islands' financial crisis,today's report looks at how Maui nonprofits are working to do more with less while serving as a safety net for disadvantaged and elderly residents. In its concluding installment Sunday, the series provides people weighed down by debt with options, including credit counseling and bankruptcy. It also seeks answers to the question many people have - what do we look for as signs of recovery?
Maui County nonprofits are using various strategies - including furloughs, agency partnerships and greater use of federal funding - to bridge the gap between a rising demand for their services and dwindling sources of funding.
Nonprofit directors report it's all part of a new reality for agencies serving as the community's safety net, trying to do more with less as the islands cope with the ongoing recession.
By tapping a federal assistance program aimed at feeding the hungry, Maui Food Bank Executive Director Richard Yust plans to hire at least one more worker to add to his roster of 10 full-time employees who take in and distribute food, among other duties.
Meanwhile, the Salvation Army's Capt. Mark Merritt has accepted voluntary furloughs from about seven employees who each stay home without pay one day every two weeks to help cut personnel costs for the nonprofit.
Both nonprofits are reporting record high numbers of families in need.
The Maui Food Bank has come to rely more heavily on the community's generosity as well as assistance from the federal government, while the Salvation Army has fewer resources and has had to adapt by reducing costs.
"We're trying to cut every corner we can," Merritt said.
The Salvation Army has seen a 30 percent increase in services across the board in a year's time. Last year, the Salvation Army provided 42,000 hot meals, and distributed 13,700 food bags and 12,000-plus hygiene kits to the homeless and hungry in the community.
"We cover all of the island except Hana," he said.
A senior center provides hot meals to elderly residents of Hana.
The Maui Food Bank is also seeing a rise in the need for services.
The nonprofit provides food for more than 70 nonprofits, mobile pantries and case workers who work one-on-one with needy clients. A year ago, the nonprofits were delivering food to approximately 7,000 men, women and children a month. That number has risen to 10,000 people a month.
Spikes in demand were seen immediately after massive layoffs at Aloha Airlines in March 2008 and at Molokai Ranch a month later.
In response, the Maui Food Bank has expanded its community food drives, and for the first time, supplemented its food contributions with quarterly purchases of three container loads (each valued at about $25,000) of food.
In addition, Maui Food Bank is buying fruits and vegetables on a regular basis from local farmers.
With 10 full-time employees, the food bank is in need of more people to handle inventory, distribution and overall operations.
"Everyone is having to be that much more diligent and efficient," Yust said.
Merritt and Yust are not alone in leading island nonprofits dealing with tight budgets.
Susie Thieman, president of the Maui Nonprofit Directors Association, said that the 70 organizations in the association knew they had to do something earlier this year when Maui County announced cutbacks in financial support.
"For many of us, it was eye-opening," Thieman said. "We knew we had to do something drastic. I don't want to say anyone's given up. In fact, none of us wants to say, 'Nobody can help you.' So we're looking for ways to keep going."
The nonprofit directors have gathered numerous times to discuss the issues and talk to one another about possible consolidations or partnerships.
Aloha House, which provides substance abuse assistance to adults, absorbed administrative services for Maui Youth & Family Services and the Malama Recovery Center last year when it appeared that funding was going to be cut.
"I don't think this economic downturn was a mystery. . . . We knew the storm was coming, and we positioned ourselves for it," Aloha House Executive Director Jud Cunningham said.
With the consolidations, Cunningham has had to cut several staffing positions at Maui Youth & Family Services and expects to let go five to 10 employees at Aloha House.
The layoffs come at a particularly tough time as "the demand for services is as high or higher than ever before," Cunningham said, adding that he's trying to find jobs for the employees who are laid off.
"I understand that cutbacks have to be made. It's just sad because it means the safety net becomes that much smaller."
At Hui Malama, Executive Director Pua Enos said that she's trying to build on partnerships like the one her agency has had with Hawaiian Canoe Club. By working with the canoe club, Hui Malama offers young people after-school academic tutoring, plus cultural activities.
Also, Hui Malama is embarking on partnerships with the Sustainable Living Institute of Maui to help establish research-based curricula in energy and agriculture. And, the Maui Economic Development Board will help Hui Malama with the expertise and costs associated with professional development for its teachers in the areas of science, math and technology.
Another partnership for Hui Malama is with Teens on Call. It allows the agencies to share resources so that teenagers getting academic lessons in English and math at Hui Malama will also get vocational training from Teens on Call. The partnership with Teens on Call provides projects in agriculture and aquaculture to provide students with vocational training for local jobs in these areas.
"All of what we're doing is responding in part to what's happening with the economy," Enos said.
There are still more Hui Malama partnerships, including those with Lanai Youth Center, Maui Community College and Maui Economic Opportunity Inc. - all aimed at extending the nonprofit's reach in helping educate young people without increasing costs.
Enos said she does not expect she will need to lay off or furlough any employees.
"I do feel blessed to be able to do all of this and to be able to have partnerships to help with expenses and expertise," she said.
* Claudine San Nicolas can be reached at claudine@mauinews.com.
