FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Poverello House faces growing demand for its services, while rising costs and smaller donations create new financial challenges for the Fresno nonprofit.

CEO Zachary Darrah said donations don’t stretch as far as they once did.

“The same 100 a month really doesn’t go as far as it did before, even last year or the year before,” Darrah said.

The increased need is evident at Papa Mike’s Cafe, where the number of meals served is up 15% from last year after increasing another 20% the year before, according to Darrah.

The cafe has served as many as 1,200 hot meals in a single day, in addition to providing off-site meals and emergency food bags.

At the same time, Darrah said rising costs are affecting donations.

“The reality is that gifts are smaller. Gifts are more sporadic. The truth is that people just have less to share,” he said.

Poverello House provides services ranging from clothing distributions and hot meals at Papa Mike’s Cafe to emergency shelter and assistance to help people find housing and recovery services.

Last year, 717 people obtained permanent housing through the nonprofit’s services.

“Of that number, 111 children will not sleep in the streets in Fresno or in a place that’s not hospitable for Fresno,” Darrah said.

Poverello House now expects a $625,000 deficit in the coming year just to maintain its current level of operations, according to Darrah.

“With a deficit of that magnitude, we begin to make really difficult choices that can be everything from the type of food we’re able to provide in the cafe to our meals. It can be the difference between a 24-hour shelter and a night-only shelter, which is a completely different type of service delivery,” Darrah said.

Darrah said every donation can help the nonprofit continue providing food, shelter and social services.

“Every dollar that comes in the door is so meaningful to us and we want to make sure that it goes as far as possible,” he said.

Darrah said Poverello House’s work today continues Papa Mike’s vision, which began with helping people in Fresno’s Chinatown.

“G Street Chinatown, where Poverello House is today, is where Papa Mike began his vision. He wanted to make sure that people knew that they had dignity, that they were cared for, and that they were loved, and it’s that foundation that we build upon today,” Darrah said.

Whether it’s food, shelter, or social services, the Poverello House strives to be the place where people come to find service and acceptance.

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