Charity Giving Down

[Anchor Lead]

With Christmas just around the corner, many good Samaritans are extending a warm helping hand to those in need. However, charitable donations haven’t been as high as expected this year.

[Pkg]

Dressed in green Santa Claus suits, people are busy packing gifts. With Christmas drawing nearer, they prepared 1,004 presents for children in need. The group of Santa Clauses visited a welfare facility for needy children.

[Soundbite] "Santa Claus will be coming if you do good until Dec. 25."

The children were briefly surprised by Santa Clauses' sudden visit. They soon cheer and exclaim in joy while unpacking presents.

[Soundbite] Kim Se-bin(Child at Welfare Center) : "I wanted to have dolls and a wallet. I am happy to see them in a gift box."

There are many places that need help and sharing. However, donations are sluggish this year. A campaign to collect donations launched a month ago. However, 134.5 billion won, or only 33 percent of this year's goal, has been collected so far. That is over ten percent lower than previous years. It appears that the spirit of giving has been dented amid a prolonged economic slump. But another reason is growing public distrust in possible diversion of funds by charity groups.

[Soundbite] Kim Yeon-sim(Daejeon Resident) : "I saw news reports that charity groups used donations for their own interests. I cannot verify if my donations are spent properly."

More heartwarming acts of sharing are critically needed to help those in need during the cold season.