By Dan Hust
MONTICELLO — Not even Federation for the Homeless Director Steve White knows who donated $75,000 to the non-profit, but he’s grateful nonetheless.
It means the Federation’s operations – including its much-relied-upon soup kitchen in Monticello – will continue for at least the next year.
“I was delighted,” marvelled White, who had expected to shutter the Federation’s facility on Monticello Street by the end of the month. “She came through!”
“She” is Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, who connected the anonymous donor with the Federation this week.
“Aileen’s also trying to secure $15,000 in public monies,” White related gratefully.
Gunther said it wasn’t the state budget cuts but fierce competition and some application issues that led to the Federation’s loss of $120,000 in annual state funding this year.
Thus she appeared confident Wednesday that the $15,000 from state sources would be forthcoming, and she’s aiming to have the Federation become part of the state’s budget next year.
While the total $90,000 is $30,000 shy of what the Federation had budgeted, White said they’ll make do.
“We’re just going to be very careful how we use the money,” he promised.
He appreciated the many people who called, including those who have vowed to start a fundraising group to benefit the Federation.
“I just want to thank the community for their concern and outcry,” White affirmed.