This week, community service organization Suffolk60Care announced the disbursement of $30,000 in grants to six other organizations.

ForKids ($8,400), YMCA ($5,700), REACH ($4,050), The Up Center ($5,000), The Salvation Army ($5,000) and the United Way of South Hampton Roads’ Raising a Reader program ($1,850) all have been selected as grant recipients. The women’s service organization holds a gala each year to raise money for the grants.

“It has been a tough year for us from the fundraising perspective,” Ashley Greene, president of Suffolk60Care, said. “And everyone is feeling those cuts. We are just glad we can still contribute where we can in this economy. But this year, just as in past years, we are honored to be part of as many organizations as we can that are doing good.”

The Suffolk60Care organization is to be commended for its generosity and benevolence in these hard times. While the struggles of for-profit organizations have been highly publicized, nonprofits are also struggling – perhaps more so – with no government bailouts to help them out.

S60C also announced its choice of ForKids as its signature project for the upcoming year, meaning that the shelter will receive the organization’s top funding and volunteer resources. The organization couldn’t have made a more timely choice. The number of homeless families is increasing almost by the day, thanks to economic situations, and shelters throughout Hampton Roads are struggling to meet the need.

We urge those Suffolk residents who are able to continue supporting the nonprofit causes they believe in. There’s never been a more important time to support those around us.