SAN RAFAEL-- -- A small San Rafael non-profit that for 18 years has been helping disabled residents lead normal, productive lives is asking for help tonight.

Lisa Giraldi, the executive director of Pacific Diversified Services, says American Express recently sent the agency a letter, saying it is cutting off business lines of credit. Giraldi says her agency has relied on its credit line to provide a financial bridge as she awaits monthly payments for the state.

"There's been a lot of time where we've had to use the credit card to make our second payroll," Giraldi says, "and not having it is really scary."

Pacific Diversified Servicesa is not alone in its financial dilemma. American Express says it is cutting off just about all its business lines of credit, effective in January. Analysts say financial services firms such as AMEX want to reduce their risk of bad loans and defaults during these tough economic times.

Giraldi says she hopes private donors will come forward to help fill in the gap and enable her agency to continue serving some of Marin's most needy and deserving residents.