By Kevin Aldridge
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Peanut butter and shortening don't sound like a mouthwatering combination, but on a cold and damp Friday afternoon in the West End they were enough to partly satisfy the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's hunger for donations.

Amid the clutter of empty boxes and stacks of canned goods, two pallets of Jif and Crisco sat prominently in the middle of the storage room on Bank Street. They are welcome gifts for the organization's "Food from the Heart" holiday drive.

Like a number of mainline charity organizations, St. Vincent de Paul said it is in dire straits as donations dip compared to last year and needs soar this Christmas. A record number of families have filled out applications for help, but the food pantry reports it has received less than half of the 185 barrels of canned goods it needs for its holiday food drive.

"Some of our volunteers are starting to get a little nervous at this point because there are so many people out there who depend on us for their holiday meals," said Liz Carter, director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. "Somehow we have to provide for these families, so somehow we will. I just trust this community will come together and help us get through this."

St. Vincent de Paul served an estimated 6,000 people during all of 2001. That figure could double this year.

Economists say the especially high number of people asking for toys and food this holiday season could be an indication that many more people are in financial trouble than in recent years.

Nationally and locally, unemployment is about 6 percent and financial experts say families are feeling the pinch.

As a result, some local charities say giving is down considerably compared with last year.

"Everyone is being asked to do more with less," said Sloan Wiesen, a spokesman for the National Committee on Responsive Philanthropy.

"We are in a uniquely difficult economic time and charitable organizations are being hit with the triple whammy of a recession, government and corporate cutbacks and increasing demands for assistance.

"I think in times where there is a feeling of great insecurity both economically and in terms of what's going on in the world, people are a little more hesitant to give," he said. "That is understandable, but also unfortunate for those who are most in need."

The FreeStore/FoodBank reported donations of food have been steady, but monetary donations are down slightly this holiday season. Tammy Reasoner, acting development director for the FreeStore, said that while the need continues to rise, the pantry will not have to turn anybody away.

The Salvation Army of Greater Cincinnati said donations are down in its holiday kettles, in its coats for kids campaign and at its toy shops.

Matt Pearce, a spokesman for the Salvation Army, said donations have fallen short for the number of toys needed to cover the 6,000 families that filled out applications this year.

The Salvation Army has already spent more than $60,000 for toys, and many volunteers shudder to think what will happen if individuals and corporations don't step up with donations.

"That's the big question mark," Mr. Pearce said.

"These next three to four days are critical for us if we are going to help those families that really need it. Hopefully, we can get enough toys in to assure that no child will go without a gift on Christmas morning."

E-mail kaldridge@enquirer.com