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March 2, 2009
Alcoa Foundation grant helps Icelandic Church Aid to face a 300% increase in aid requests
Tómas Már Sigurdsson, director of Alcoa Iceland, presented today Jónas Thórir Thórisson, manager of the Icelandic Church Aid, with a grant of 5.8 million Icelandic krona (50,000 US$) from the Alcoa Foundation in the US.
Tómas said on the occasion that it is important for companies with something to spare to show social responsibility and contribute to support those badly hit by the economical crisis currently sweeping over the world. Alcoa and the Alcoa Foundation had decided to focus the grantmaking this year especially on those hurt by the economical situation and community projects that would benefit as many people as possible. Everyone in Iceland knows what a valuable contribution the Church Aid is making and Tómas said it was a pleasure to be able to support this important work.
Jónas Thórir thanked the Alcoa Foundation for the support which would be very much appreciated as the Church Aid has sensed an enormous increase in requests for help. The increase in January was 152% from the same month last year. New numbers on the amount of requests show an even higher increase in February, or almost 300%: whereas in February last year the organization received 139 requests, this year 410 requests have been submitted. Many individuals are applying now for the first time.
The greatest increase of requests is in the loss of employment category, of which middle-aged men form the largest portion. Requests from single mothers and single men on disability pension have also grown in number.
Jónas emphasized that it is immensely difficult for many individuals to admit that they need help and it is necessary for the community to adjust its views on community support to the present economical situation.
The increase in help requests is evident all over the country and obviously, increased unemployment in rural areas has led to a higher number of them. The Church Aid works in close co-operation with ministers all over the country, as well as social workers in institutions and educational consultants in high schools.
"The Church Aid seeks to confront new and changed prerequisites regarding the help provided. The aim is to provide professsional consultation and meet the basic needs of the applicants. Alcoa's generous support makes a whole lot of difference," said Jónas.
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