And Maybe the Homeless Could Just Wrap Themselves in Extra Newspapers

As if dealing with a wobbly economy weren’t bad enough, nonprofits are having to figure out a way to pay for rising energy costs.

Most have been able to absorb the increase, but the bigger concern is whether energy costs will continue to rise sharply in the future. …

Theatre Harrisburg’s natural gas costs also have crept 3 percent over last winter, despite a relatively new furnace and a policy of keeping thermostats turned down.

"I tell people, that’s what sweaters are for," [executive director Samuel] Kuba said.

Bit of a glib remark, though theatergoers can surely afford an extra layer of angora. The bigger problem is for social-service nonprofits, whose margins are already razor-thin and whose clientele lacks the resources to assist with taking on some of the extra costs. Once again we’re reminded why unrestricted funding is so critical. | 501(c)