BTW-hit hard by they economic fiasco--Not for Profits and NGO's

[underpants]

Non-Governmental Organizations

They do great work some replacement parts of the "social safety net" that were once performed by local and state governments.

The American Red Cross said that the response to Ike was the lowest ever. During Gustov they even stated on-air that they were borrowing money. I don't know how rare this is but a lot of NGO's borrow until they get repaid from state warrants and from grants (often administered in local government)

A lot of these organizations rely on volunteers but for the professionally staffed ones pay is low and the thresh hold for operations is thread bare.