Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton

Here’s a bit of good-news bad-news for the economy: Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, will donate his $4,700 raise to charity.

It’s bad news for the congressman’s pocketbook, of course. Unlike many of his colleagues, McNerney is far from wealthy and has a mortgage like the rest of us.

The five charities he selected will welcome the cash, though. The recession has hit their budgets at the same time demand for their services is on the rise.

But the bigger question is why Congress is giving itself a raise in the first place. Technically, there was no vote to boost their paychecks. Congress averts those pesky votes through automatic formulas. A few fiscal hawks attempt to squash it each year through procedural machinations but it never amounts to more than a few rabid press releases.

The charities McNerney selected are:

Catholic Charities of Stockton

Catholic Charities provides a wide variety of services to people in need throughout the Central Valley, including children’s health, elder abuse prevention, personal care and transportation services.

Dignity’s Alcove

A Stockton-based non-profit that provides transitional housing and substance abuse counseling for veterans. It is the only such facility of its kind in San Joaquin County.

Greater Stockton Emergency Food Bank

The Greater Stockton Emergency Food Bank provides packaged emergency food to over one thousand people a day in San Joaquin County through its main location and 12 satellite food banks.

Tri-Valley Haven

The Haven provides shelter and counseling for survivors of sexual assault, battered women and their children in the Tri-Valley, operating a 24-hour crisis phone line and serving as the region’s only rape crisis center. The organization also runs Sojourner House, a shelter for single parents, women, and families with children, as well as the Haven Food Pantry.

Village Community Resource Center

The Village Community Resource Center in Brentwood provides a variety of resources to under-served families and children in East County, including after school programs as well as family support and health services.