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Christian Care downsizes staff
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Press release submitted by Christian Care CHRISTIAN CARE DOWNSIZES STAFF Layoffs made at time of increased need in Quad Cities community November 20, 2009, Rock Island, IL – After prayerful consideration, the Christian Care Board of Directors, facing an operating budget deficit, have been forced to reduce personnel at their two facilities by close to 50%. The faith-based, nonprofit organization in Rock Island has provided food and shelter to record numbers this year - providing 42,193 meals and 10,346 nights of lodgings to those in need. The organization has two facilities, a Domestic Violence Shelter for abused women and children and a Rescue Mission for homeless men, where they also have a community meal site. "Christian Care is solvent and debt-free at this time, but face significant budget shortfalls," said Sharon DeFrieze, President of the Christian Care Board. "Both facilities are managing with a bare-bones staff, the absolute minimum needed to continue operations. We have continued to maintain a high level of services to the homeless and abused in our community, despite our eroding resources. We can not, as financial stewards of the organization, continue to operate with a monthly deficit." Most of the cuts were made in areas of administrative support and donor relations. "We hope that this is a temporary situation, and we are confident that with God's guidance we will be able to get our funding in line with our expenditures and be able to reestablish some of those positions," continued DeFrieze. "But our main responsibility is to our residents, seeing that their needs are met and services are continued." Individuals provide the majority of support for Christian Care, with additional contributions made by churches, businesses, organizations and grants. The organization does not receive any funding from the state or federal government. "We have been blessed by donations of food and clothing, but we are in serious need of financial contributions at this time," said Dr. Elaine Winter, ---more--- Executive Director. "We are approaching the end of our fiscal year and the cold winter months with a serious shortfall, and we are relying on the generosity of the Quad Cities community to help us through this difficult time. We've been through difficult times before in our 93 year history, and we fully expect to weather this storm and come out stronger because of it." Christian Care has been serving the Quad Cities since 1916. The Rock Island Rescue Mission was founded to provide shelter, food, clothing and spiritual nourishment to men seeking employment in the Quad Cities. In 1981 a shelter for domestic violence victims was established to provide refuge, safety and compassion for women and children fleeing lives of abuse. Their services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. To find out more about Christian Care, go to www.christiancareqc.org. 
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