Nonprofit Groups

On Aug. 22 and 23 my eye was caught by topics on your pages. As an advocate for local nonprofit organizations, I found myself extremely discouraged about the congressional attacks on the American Assn. of Retired Persons (AARP), the imminent closing of the C. Claude Hudson Comprehensive Health Center and the decline in corporate donations of school supplies for the Fred Jordan Mission.

The cutbacks and “downsizing” at the national, state, county and city levels of government have increased the fear and insecurity that disadvantaged people regularly face. Where will they go when their baby is sick, or their child needs shoes for school?

Most of them will end up going to nonprofit organizations that will stretch one more time in order to feed, clothe, educate, retrain and shelter the people that the cutbacks have left behind. Nonprofits are not to blame for society’s problems--we are increasingly the only help available to people who have nowhere else to turn. The need to support these community-based efforts in their attempts to hold that line firm is greater than ever.

PATTY OERTEL, Executive Director

Center for Nonprofit Management

Los Angeles