CUMBERLAND — The economic downturn has affected many facets of the everyday citizen’s life. Health care, retirement and employment have all felt the sting of the bursting housing bubble. The demand on charitable organizations has increased, but have the average citizen’s donation habits been affected as well?

“We’re giving more to charity,” said homemaker Eileen Sindeldecker, 40, of Scherr, W.Va. “I’m sure people have been more needy this year.”

Sindeldecker said she’s been giving to church functions by filling up shoe boxes with gifts for children and sending them overseas. She said she’s also been supporting the Salvation Army’s kettle drive.

“It hasn’t affected how often I give to charity,” said Jeff Gilchrist, 55, who owns an insurance agency near Pittsburgh. Gilchrist said he is even giving to charity as a gift for his family. “My sister asked me to give to a local food drive,” said Gilchrist, who added that he is being slightly more frugal with his spending otherwise.

Clinton Feaster, 28, of Cresaptown is unemployed and said he’s been giving less to charity. “It’s getting harder (to give),” said Feaster. “I’m having to be more frugal. ... I hope (the economy) is getting better.”

Feaster said he does try to give to charities supported by stores, however, when he’s able to add the amount of his donation onto the price of the goods he’s purchased.

“I just don’t have as much money to give as I’d like to,” said Delmar Ackerman, 67, of Short Gap, W.Va, who believes that the need for charity has increased because of the problems with the economy. “And there’s so many different (charities).”

Ackerman said he’s had to cut back in a variety of ways, such as by reducing maintenance on his cars.

“I give to the kettle drive, our church and its functions,” said Tony Batima, 79, who is retired and from Frostburg. “(The economy) hasn’t really affected me, and I haven’t really had to be more frugal.”

Josh Janney, 16, a high school student from Purcellville, Va., said the economy hasn’t affected his family’s donation habits, but his family has been trying to cut costs. “When it comes to charity, it’s more about how we spend on what we do buy,” said Janney. “Some of what we save goes to charity.”

Cory Galliher can be reached at