By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – Organizers of the Catholic Charities appeal are expressing concerns about the slow pace of this year's drive.
The total amount raised passed the $8 million mark on Tuesday. In other years, the drive usually hits that figure at the end of its first day.
If contributions don't pick up, Catholic Charities Director Fr. Joseph Sicari says there's a chance they'll fall short of the $10.9 million goal. The drive is scheduled to wrap up on Sunday.
Sicari said there are a couple of reasons for the decline -- some donors have moved away while others have died.
"If you have a deceased donor who has given $1,000, we're likely going to have to replace that person with several new donors," Sicari said. "They may not be in the same position as that person was to make a $1,000 donation."
Catholic Charities is the area's largest private provider of human services. Sicari says it helps all needy people in the region, regardless of their religious affiliation.
"Catholic Charities offers a network of services," Sicari said. "We provide emergency assistance, food pantries, counseling for individuals and families, education and career programs and drug and alcohol prevention programs."
Sicari says Catholic Charities helps one in ten families in the region, some 180,000 people last year alone.