{"id":474760,"date":"2026-09-25T00:56:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T00:56:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/474760\/"},"modified":"2026-09-25T00:56:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T00:56:12","slug":"poverello-house-works-to-meet-growing-need-despite-rising-costs-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/474760\/","title":{"rendered":"Poverello House Works to Meet Growing Need Despite Rising Costs"},"content":{"rendered":"

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) \u2014 Poverello House faces growing demand for its services, while rising costs and smaller donations create new financial challenges for the Fresno nonprofit.<\/p>\n

CEO Zachary Darrah said donations don\u2019t stretch as far as they once did.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe same 100 a month really doesn\u2019t go as far as it did before, even last year or the year before,\u201d CEO Zachary Darrah<\/p>\n

The increased need is evident at Papa Mike\u2019s Cafe, where the number of meals served is up 15% from last year after increasing another 20% the year before, according to Darrah.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

At the same time, Darrah said rising costs are affecting donations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reality is that gifts are smaller. Gifts are more sporadic. The truth is that people just have less to share,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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Poverello House provides services ranging from clothing distributions and hot meals at Papa Mike\u2019s Cafe to emergency shelter and assistance to help people find housing and recovery services.<\/p>\n

Last year, 717 people obtained permanent housing through the nonprofit\u2019s services.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf that number, 111 children will not sleep in the streets in Fresno or in a place that\u2019s not hospitable for Fresno,\u201d Darrah said.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cWith a deficit of that magnitude, we begin to make really difficult choices that can be everything from the type of food we\u2019re 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,\u201d -CEO Zachary Darrah<\/p>\n

Darrah said every donation can help the nonprofit continue providing food, shelter and social services.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery dollar that comes in the door is so meaningful to us and we want to make sure that it goes as far as possible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Darrah said Poverello House\u2019s work today continues Papa Mike\u2019s vision, which began with helping people in Fresno\u2019s Chinatown.<\/p>\n

\u201cG 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\u2019s that foundation that we build upon today,\u201d Darrah said.<\/p>\n

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Whether it\u2019s food, shelter, or social services, the Poverello House strives to be the place where people come to find service and acceptance.<\/p>\n

By ABC 30\u2019s Vanessa Vasconcelos on Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Copyright \u00a9 2026 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n