By LEAH WEATHERSBY

It seems that nearly everybody is feeling the pinch of recession and certainly local nonprofit organizations are no different. After all, few people want to give money away if they think they might not have a job tomorrow. For those that still do have the means to dig deep - well, who can turn away from the horrifying images of ground zero in New York.

Of course, now that no one has extra money, people need help from charities more than ever. Jamie Flaxman, executive director of the Wallingford Boys & Girls Club, said demand for the group's free drop-in program (a useful service for parents who might not be able to afford child care) is on the rise. At the same, the organization is struggling to make ends meet.

"We're cutting expenses wherever we can right now without affecting programs," Flaxman said. She added that the Wallingford Boys & Girls Club is planning a mail and phone fundraising campaign in the coming weeks. "Definitely I'm anxious," Flaxman said. "Especially hearing how other nonprofits are doing.

Rita Anderson, executive director at North Helpline, a group which provides food and services to needy families, said that while food donations always pick up around the holidays, cash donations have not.

"People who used to give are now on the receiving end," Anderson said.

Charities that relied on government assistance are also feeling the pinch. Jake Weber, director with FamilyWorks, a Wallingford-based food bank and resource center for needy families, said that for the last four years her group had received assistance from the King County Children and Family Commission. According to Weber, FamilyWorks (as well as several other groups) have been cut from that funding program.

On the other hand, Chris Peterson, executive director at the Seattle Audubon Society said that while it is too soon to tell how supporters will respond to donations appeals that were recently mailed, the group hired one person recently and is poised to fill a second position.

Of course, even there the effects of local jobs cuts are being felt in one way: Peterson said she received over 200 applications for the two positions. b