MSP Treasurer Tamia Bible
The Morgan Scott Project is very pleased to report that only 23 cents of every dollar contributed went to overhead during 2009, leaving 77 cents available for our charitable programs. Overhead represents the cost of operating the organization and it has been our goal to reduce all operating expenses in order to increase the amount that we are able to spend on our programs, such as emergency aid, home repair, educational assistance, and others. Since the end of 2007, 14 more cents of every dollar contributed is going directly to programs. At that time, 37 cents of every dollar had to be spent on overhead as compared to 23 cents this year.
The Project completed 2009 with total receipts of approximately $180,000 and total expenditures (both programs and overhead) of about $175,000 for a slight surplus of approximately $5,000. We were concerned at the end of the third quarter because receipts had not kept pace with expenditures at that point, but due to the generosity of our many contributors, we were able to make up that deficit.
Our largest charitable program in terms of expenditures is Emergency Aid. We spent approximately $48,000 in 2009 to assist residents of Morgan and Scott Counties in Tennessee with rent, utilities, and other emergency needs. Almost $16,000 was spent on home repairs for individuals, such as wheel chair ramps, new roofs, and other repairs. $13,000 went to our New Light educational program, which assists individuals with education that will enable them to support themselves and their families. We also spent about $5,000 each on providing food boxes to those in need as well as on our Good Earth program, which provides seeds and seedlings for a home garden. These are just some of the programs that your contributions support.
2010 has started off with a major layoff in one of the largest employers in Scott County. This will probably force Scott County’s unemployment percentage, already the second highest in the state at 18.8%, even higher. Your contributions in the upcoming year, be they money, time, or items for our thrift store, will help make a difference. Thank you to all.
Article by Tamia Bible
