SERVE braces for big financial hits

May 13, 2011 at 7:42 a.m. | Updated May 13, 2011 at 7:42 a.m.

SERVE, Inc. Executive Director Lisa Brown stocks shelves at the food pantry Thursday afternoon. The shelves currently are full courtesy of the recent Feinstein Challenge, but SERVE staff are worried about the impact a string of recent financial blows will have on their organization.
SERVE, Inc. Executive Director Lisa Brown stocks shelves at the food pantry Thursday afternoon. The shelves currently are full courtesy of the recent Feinstein Challenge, but SERVE staff are worried about the impact a string of recent financial blows will have on their organization.

Already facing issues with increased demand, SERVE, Inc. now is dealing with the possibility of significant cuts that will affect several of the organization's key services.

With federal budget cuts leading to a probable loss of the 55 and Go volunteer program - previously known as RSVP - after 2012, the looming end of the Missouri Food Pantry Tax Credit and fear of an impending reduction in transportation funding, SERVE Executive Director Lisa Brown finds herself asking, "How are we supposed to operate?"

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.