MARIETTA - Nonprofits are facing a "double-edged sword" as the recession drags on. While seeing significant slashes in funding, local groups are seeing a sharp increase of struggling families in need of their services.

SafePath Children's Advocacy Center saw its number of physical abuse cases double from 2007 to 2008, said Jinger Robins, executive director of SafePath.

"The most innocent, unfortunately, pay during hard economic times. All of these families are caught off-guard with how they are supposed to manage now. It can be stressful on a parent who has lost their job and has a family to feed and bills to pay. They find themselves behaving in a way they typically wouldn't," she said. "We've really seen the consequences of the economy when children are involved. As a community that wants to protect our children, we each play a part in it."

While abuse cases rise, SafePath's state and federal grants have been cut by 30 percent over the last two years. By 2010, SafePath will see a 50 percent cut from the money available at state and government levels. The nonprofit's annual budget ranges from $750,000 to $850,000, Robins said.

"We've got a double-edged sword here. The number of cases are going up because of the economy, and on the flip side the dollars available to serve these victims is decreasing," she said. "We must serve the victims who need us. At a time when we can't increase staff and must keep up with services, we have to get real creative and resourceful in how we're going to serve the population."

Like many nonprofits, SafePath is generating money through various fundraisers. The nonprofit is the beneficiary of a golf tournament Monday at the Indian Hills Country Club. All of the proceeds from Teeing Off For Kids benefit SafePath, which serves victims of child abuse and their families. Golfers can still sign up, including the day of the event. Registration begins at 9 a.m. The cost is $175 per golfer. Call (770) 801-3469 or go to www.teeingoffforkids.com.

"Every year, we have to raise about 40 percent of the annual budget. We need to raise more than that now though because when we lose the grants - we need to be able to fill the gap," Robins said.

MUST Ministries has also seen an increase in traffic and a sharp decrease in supply, said Annette Lee, resource development coordinator.

"The demand has been up about 25 percent through the entire year. It's just been a constant struggle to keep the word out. We continue to need food," she said.

The three MUST Ministries locations serve up a combined total of one ton of food per day. On average, they feed 100 people per day, and they typically only get about three tons of food in every week.

"About three weeks ago, I went by the pantry and the shelves were so bare. I sent out word to the community and we've had some increase in donations from individuals, but it hasn't caught up with the need," she said. "The food goes out just as soon as it comes in. Right now, it's really the last thing people think about - someone else being hungry. We have to do a good job reminding them."

MUST Ministries has multiple food drives throughout the year to help restock their pantries. Their next food drive will be at the north Georgia State Fair. On Oct. 3 and 4, the fair will waive the cost of admission if people bring in canned goods. Last year, fairgoers emptied their pantries of 15 tons of food that benefited MUST Ministries.

"The community really responds and it's great. It's just when you're giving out one ton of food every day, it doesn't go very far unless you get in that much every day," she said. "We try to make up the difference during the holidays because I think it's more at the top of people's minds."

MUST Ministries accepts non-perishable food items, preferably a canned item that contains protein. For more information on the non-profit's current food needs, Lee said to visit the Web site www.mustministries.org.