UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- For many people, the holiday season is a time for giving and charity toward those less fortunate. But the changing face of poverty means many charitable gestures have become less than effective. An expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences says a few tips can help your giving make a greater impact for those in need.

Increasingly, today's underprivileged are members of the working poor. Nationally, more than 28 million people work full-time yet still earn less than the $18,800-per-year federal poverty level (for a family of four). The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 63 percent of U.S. families below the federal poverty line have one or more workers. The working poor have responded with distinct coping strategies, says Julie Haines, education, development and training specialist for Penn State Nutrition Links.

"People are turning to food pantries when they're financially swamped," Haines says. "Many times, you can't reduce rent, heating and utility costs, so if you can save $40 on groceries, that's a wise use of limited resources. Some of the working poor are so dependent on emergency food sources that it's not so emergency any more -- it's normal."

What a financially strapped family may need more than food, says Haines, are the day-to-day essentials not available at emergency food banks and pantries.

"What they can't get at food pantries are things like laundry detergent, disposable diapers and infant formula," she explains. "And so if you give gift certificates for those types of items, you can really help a family's finances -- not just at Christmas, but through the year."

If you don't know the realities of poverty in America, Haines explains, some charitable gestures may make you feel good, but not do much for those in genuine need.

"For example, during the holidays, people get caught up and food pantries can get swamped with tons of canned pumpkin but no vegetables, rice or cereal," she says. "The pantry may have limited storage, special needs or hot items that they run out of. If you're thinking about doing a food drive, it's best to contact the pantry ahead of time. That way, you may be able to meet specific needs."

You can pledge yourself or your group to do a food drive for a food pantry a few months after the holiday rush, Haines says. You also can ask to be put on an emergency list so the food bank can contact you if they find they have emergency needs later in the year.

"Another thing is gift certificates that can buy perishable items that pantries can’t store or use state funding to purchase," she says. "If a family needs something and the pantry is empty or closed, the food bank can give the family a $15 certificate to the local supermarket. That small amount can get some families through a food crisis."

Many working poor have little or no medical insurance coverage through their jobs, Haines says, so gift certificates at the local drug store can help them with prescriptions or vitamins for their children.

"A lot of working poor don't have coverage for doctor's visit or prescriptions, or their coverage may come with a high deductible," she says. "Often, their children go without medicine or vitamins. If their doctor prescribes an antibiotic for a simple infection, that can tap their entire cash resources for a month with one visit.

"Donating a pharmacy gift certificate to the food pantry may not feel as fulfilling as giving a bag of groceries, but it enables the family to spend their disposable cash on other things. They can use coupons at the grocery to stretch their budget but prescription medicines don't go on sale."

A gift certificate for gasoline often can be precious for working poor families faced with increasing gas prices and limited public transportation to get to work or for other needs. "One family had a child with a health problem and had to commute to a regional hospital," Haines says. "Our church gave them a certificate to help pay for the trips."

The challenge of the holidays is to avoid trendy holiday gifts, and to think practically for families living on a limited budget: electric blankets, flannel sheets, backpacks and school supplies. Snack foods, juice boxes and fruit are all things children can serve to themselves. "Remember, what relieves parents' stress can make their lives easier through the year," she says.

If you want to make a real contribution, you can always offer a gift of your time to the financially strapped agencies that work directly with the underprivileged, Haines says.

"A lot of nonprofit agencies have had severe budget cutbacks and rely heavily on volunteers for things like transporting people to dialysis or taking the elderly to doctors," she explains. "Staffers coordinate everything so you don't have to think of what to do. At Nutrition Links, we rely on donations to buy the food that goes into the bags, and we rely on volunteers to help teach, baby-sit and pack groceries. If you really want to help struggling people, call and offer your time; that helps people all year long."

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Writer/Editor: Gary Abdullah Office 814-863-2708 FAX 814-863-9877