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A slow economy is affecting holiday donations to agencies that help Charlotte’s poor.

At Bethlehem Center, organizers are struggling to rally donations for the 450 families and seniors it traditionally feeds for Thanksgiving.  The agency provides holiday meals  in the Southside, Brookhill, and Wilmore neighborhoods for families of children in Bethlehem Center’s afterschool and Head Start programs.

In past years, a single church has collected food and turkeys for donation. That’s not the case this year, which has Bethlehem Center scrambling to make up the difference.

“We are very thankful to the Charlotte area churches that have already stepped up to help bridge the gap this has left,” said Amy Hutchison, Bethlehem Center’s development specialist.  “Our biggest concern at this point is funding 400 more turkeys.  We have already had commitments from churches and other groups to support the sides for all of our families as well as the sides and turkey breasts for our senior citizens in the community.”

Bethlehem Center officials are encouraging cash donations that will buy turkeys instead of having individuals deliver birds directly to the agency.

“Logistically we are not equipped to store turkeys, so the delivery of the turkeys will need to take place the same day as distribution to our families.  It is best that we purchase and have delivered the 400 turkeys simultaneously,” Executive Director William McDonald said.

Across the state line in South Carolina, Dream Dinners of Fort Mill, a dinner assembly franchise that produces easy-to-assemble entrees, is sponsoring "Holiday Meals From the Heart," a fundraiser to benefit families who are unable to afford Thanksgiving dinners in Fort Mill and Tega Cay.

Tickets are being sold for $25 through Nov. 17 with an open house from 6-8 p.m. where customers may redeem coupons for an entree. For every ticket, $10 will be donated for Thanksgiving dinners for needy families.

Donations can be sent to Bethlehem Center Attn: Amy Hutchison 2705 Baltimore Avenue Charlotte, NC 28203 or via the website at www.bethlehemcenter.org.  Make sure to note “Thanksgiving 2009” in the memo.

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