Homeless, needy find compassion and help with aid of The Community Foundation

SAN BERNARDINO - The number of homeless and needy families showing up at Cornerstone Compassion Center for a bag of groceries has jumped about 30 percent in the past two years.

It's a familiar story for charity groups around the country as the economy continues to struggle.

"In the last two years, we've definitely seen more working families that are having to rely upon us for help," said Robin Hyde, executive director for the center.

But a group that helps charities - The Community Foundation - actually had the best fundraising year in its 70-year history in 2011. And that's good news for organizations such as Cornerstone, which has received about $1,800 from the foundation in the last 18 months.

One-third

Volunteers help stock and bag donated food. (Eric Reed/Correspondent)

of that donation translates to around 2,400 boxes of cereal, or two months of keeping the food pantry's refrigerators and freezers running, Hyde said.

The Community Foundation, which serves San Bernardino and Riverside counties, raised $9.1 million in grants and donations last year.

The foundation connects financial donors with charities. It distributes grant money to nonprofit groups and scholarships to students, and funds various projects centering on the arts, family and health, among other issues.

Foundation CEO Daniel Foster said the 2008 stock-market crash forced the organization to re-examine its business model.

They've received support from the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to examine why other areas of Southern California receive a higher level of grants than the Inland Empire.

Foundation officials have gathered economic and quality-of-life data for the region to make their case for why more grants are needed for local charities.

"We are working on developing grant initiatives to develop more and better grants for our region," Foster said.

They've also begun working with partners such as the High Desert Resource Network to train their members in

Volunteers help bag donated food. (Eric Reed/Correspondent)

fundraising, grant writing and leadership development.

They're also planning to gather local leaders to collaborate on how to improve the quality of life in the Inland Empire and address how areas such as education, environment, arts and culture can be improved.

"It takes more than money to really solve a variety of quality of life issues in this region," Foster said. "It takes vision, and it takes collaboration."

Reach Melissa via email or call her at 909-386-3878.

Source: http://www.sbsun.com/ci_20047778?source=rss_viewed

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