High gas prices hurt individuals, families, businesses and even the government.

Each person or group has to make difficult decisions about how much they’ll spend and where they’ll cut back.

But at least the decision is theirs.

For many non-profit agencies there is no decision on the table.

The agencies — most of them — already run on shoe string budgets. They can’t cutback, because there is nothing to cut.

These agencies must either cut services or find new money.

Cutting services will only deepen the blow to many local families already struggling with their own family budgets.

Monday night the Concordia Parish Council on Aging asked the Concordia Parish Police Jury to place a tax on the ballot that would fund the agency.

The council needs more funds to buy gas to deliver meals to the elderly and transport seniors without other transportation options.

No one wants to hear about more taxes right now.

But, as the prices at the pump continue to spike, we all have to sit back and think not just about our family budgets, but about those of non-profits that keep portions of our community alive.

If times are tough for you, they are likely tougher for someone else.