RESPONDING TO
COVID‑19
T
by Kimberly Moore
he COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented challenges throughout our society. For the nonprofit sector, the impact was particularly intense. Some saw demand for their services increase, while others addressed new needs created by the pandemic. All had to figure out how to safely provide their services. This occurred as revenues and donations plummeted. The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation and the Jenny Lillian Semans Koortbojian Trust partnered to provide $365,000 in operating support to area K-12 education and arts nonprofits to help with these challenges. We also partnered to provide $50,000 to five organizations that offer emergency relief to individuals and families in need. Below, we highlight just a few of the nonprofits to applaud their spirit, tenacity, and ability to adapt as they reinvented their service delivery models and responded deftly to needs in our communities. (Full list follows.) Children were significantly impacted by COVID-19 pandemic as school went virtual, out-of-school programs closed, and parents lost jobs. The Durham Children’s Initiative (DCI) answered the call of the more than 800 children in their community. Parent surveys revealed that over half of the respondents were unemployed and unsure about future employment. Parents were concerned about
their children’s academic progress. DCI moved their entire service portfolio to various online platforms. They started Zoom calls, produced and shared YouTube videos, broadcasted Facebook Live for story time, produced STEAM Saturdays and Parent Cafés, and created a virtual preschool program. The DCI staff also created the Frontline Fellows program, which placed older students in organizations that were doing COVID-19 outreach and matched their salaries. These students were able to save over $20,000 and many of them used the money to support their families. The Chatham Education Foundation (CEF) responded to the needs of students in the Chatham public schools in several ways. Instead of the book fair usually held in schools, they collaborated with the Chatham County Nutrition Department to distribute books based on grade level at the various
food distribution sites. Staff worked for weeks to package and distribute the books. They also moved the Students Obtaining Advancement in Reading program to a virtual environment. The internet infrastructure in this predominantly rural county is limited, and CEF provided hotspots where possible and traditional school supplies like paper, pens, pencils, and lap desks for those students who could not access the internet. The arts are vital to thriving communities, particularly during times of duress, providing personal enjoyment to individuals and families and giving voice to the human condition. Arts organizations and artists have struggled as a result of the loss of in-person performances, teaching opportunities, and other events. Many have responded to these challenges through creative use of online platforms and safe performance practices.
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