Shrinking donations spell trouble for Everett charity
EVERETT -- Hundreds of abused and neglected kids in Snohomish County are going to have to wait for help, because the non-profit organization they depend on just lost more than $100,000 in donations.
Bethanie Carson won't miss another minute of her son Danny's life. She spent the last two years proving to CPS she's capable of being a mother by turning to Deaconess Children's Services.
"I wasn't able to be there for him when he needed me," she said. "I started off as a really young mom, didn't know what I was doing, wasn't raised the best myself and I am looking for all the help that I could get."
Deaconess in Everett has helped abused and neglected children and their parents since the 1800s when it started as an orphanage. Now kids come here for therapy and healing.
You won't find nearly as many toys in their room, and nothing on the walls. This room is where parents meet one-on-one with their children. Deaconess steps in with a coach on the other side of a wall, coaching parents how to interact with their child through an ear piece.
But the non profit won't be able to help as much. Vice President of Programs, Chanelle Carlin, says a donor that usually gives $120,000 a year, cut back to $9,000. Now, 1,600 kids and parents will go on a waiting list.
"When someone is brave enough to say, 'I need help' and (for us) to say, 'Well, I'm really sorry we don't have enough funding can you wait?' It's not acceptable," Carlin said.
Carson considers herself lucky she was able to use Deaconess.
"It's been the longest two-year battle of my life and Deaconess let the court see to have faith in me that I was learning to be a better parent for my children," she said.
But other children won't get the critical help they need now.
Similar non-profits are taking a hit too. Family Law Casa in King County lost more than $10,000 in one grant. And corporate sponsorships and individual donations are either smaller or not coming in at all.
Bethanie Carson won't miss another minute of her son Danny's life. She spent the last two years proving to CPS she's capable of being a mother by turning to Deaconess Children's Services.
"I wasn't able to be there for him when he needed me," she said. "I started off as a really young mom, didn't know what I was doing, wasn't raised the best myself and I am looking for all the help that I could get."
Deaconess in Everett has helped abused and neglected children and their parents since the 1800s when it started as an orphanage. Now kids come here for therapy and healing.
You won't find nearly as many toys in their room, and nothing on the walls. This room is where parents meet one-on-one with their children. Deaconess steps in with a coach on the other side of a wall, coaching parents how to interact with their child through an ear piece.
But the non profit won't be able to help as much. Vice President of Programs, Chanelle Carlin, says a donor that usually gives $120,000 a year, cut back to $9,000. Now, 1,600 kids and parents will go on a waiting list.
"When someone is brave enough to say, 'I need help' and (for us) to say, 'Well, I'm really sorry we don't have enough funding can you wait?' It's not acceptable," Carlin said.
Carson considers herself lucky she was able to use Deaconess.
"It's been the longest two-year battle of my life and Deaconess let the court see to have faith in me that I was learning to be a better parent for my children," she said.
But other children won't get the critical help they need now.
Similar non-profits are taking a hit too. Family Law Casa in King County lost more than $10,000 in one grant. And corporate sponsorships and individual donations are either smaller or not coming in at all.