Foundation and relief funds

By Wendy Rigby Trail-Gazette

Like many people, contractor Frank Theis of Estes

Park is expecting a stimulus check in the mail as the federal government seeks to lessen the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike many people, Theis said he doesn’t really need the money to survive the current crisis.

Theis is proposing that people like him in Estes Park pool their direct cash payments and create a fund to help people in the town who really need it.

“Most of the suddenly-unemployed hourly workers are going to be needing help beyond the initial payment,” Theis said.

For the Estes Park workers who are employed as waiters, bartenders, housekeepers, cooks, hospitality staff or retail employees, this crisis comes at a terrible time.

“As usual, many have survived the off-season on a subsistence income, and they were just looking forward to seeing their incomes start to rise,” Theis commented in an email proposing his idea. “Many live off of savings in the off-season, and run short this time of year. A $1,200 check will only cover a month’s rent or food, not both. If this shutdown lasts several months, as expected, many hourly workers may be forced to leave Estes.”

Theis said this will impact everyone who lives in the town.

“These are essential members of our community,” Theis stressed. “If we want our own local economic stabilization, we need to figure out how to keep them. When they run out of money, they will leave. When they leave, it will be hard to get them to come back.”

Theis’ plan is in its infancy,

Frank Theis / Courtesy photo Frank Theis has lived in Estes Park for two decades.

“Many (hourly workers) live off of savings in the off-season, and run short this time of year. A $1,200 check will only cover a month’s rent or food, not both. If this shutdown lasts several months, as expected, many hourly workers may be forced to leave Estes.” Frank Theis, Estes Park resident

but he said he believes a fund that is not administered by the government could be useful in the months to come.

He proposes receiving contributions from people who are will to donate their government payments and building a structure to review requests for additional financial support from the unemployed.

“Then we should identify individual needs for basics, such as food and rent, until their jobs come back,” Theis explained. “We could make payments to those individuals over the next several months, as needed.”

Employers will need employees as businesses reopen. Theis said everyone in Estes Park will need the services of workers who provide assistance in areas from maintenance to home health care.

Other related efforts to provide short-term financial relief to businesses are already underway.

The Estes Chamber of Commerce is part of a committee helping to decide how to use the $250,000 Community Relief Fund approved by the Town of Estes Park Board of Trustees on March 24.

“The Chamber is actively participating in a committee evaluating the business needs and deciding on distribution of these funds,” Chamber Executive Director Donna Carlson said. “There are three possible categories of need we can use this money to help address: mortgage costs, bills (including utilities) and taxes and insurance.”

The Estes Park Nonprofit Resource Center has established the EP Nonprofit Relief Fund for disbursement within Estes Park only.

“This fund will support any operational need that contributes to the execution of an essential service and/or basic need in our community,” the EPNRC said in its announcement.

Theis said he believes there are many wealthy retirees in the Estes Park community who could choose to donate to a separate fund.

“They could put the money in a grandchild’s college fund or pay one month’s mortgage, or they could contribute their stimulus checks to a fund that will secure the sound economic future of the town,” Theis commented.

The busiest tourist months in Estes Park are July, August and September. If Rocky Mountain National Park reopens soon and the lodging industry is able to book guests, “I suspect Estes will not be devastated,” Theis said. “People who normally go to Disneyland or travel overseas might decide to come see the national park instead.”

Theis invites comments and thoughts on his stimulus check fund proposal. He can be reached at ftheis3@gmail.com.

EPH Foundation’s Emergency Response Fund up and running

By Kevin Mullin, Estes Park

Health Foundation

For the Trail-Gazette

On March 19, the Estes Park Health Foundation Board of Directors created the Estes Park Coronavirus and Subsequent Emergency Response Fund with the goal of raising $150,000 to support Estes Park Health in its response to keeping the community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

So far the Foundation has raised $88k, securing funding for a $45,500 ask to convert four rooms at Estes Park Health to negative pressure See FOUNDATION, pg. 26

Estes Park Health Foundation Courtesy photo Negative pressure rooms prevent the air from infected patients’ rooms from escaping to other areas of the hospital.

EPNRC creates a Nonprofit Relief Fund

By Karen McPherson,

Estes Park Nonprofit Resource Center

For the Trail-Gazette

In times of crisis, nonprofits become the safety nets of a community. The Estes Park Nonprofit Center (EPNRC) has established a Nonprofit Relief Fund to assure basic needs are met and essential services remain consistent now and beyond this crisis. The Nonprofit Relief Fund is disbursed within Estes Park only. This fund supports any operational need that contributes to the execution of an essential service and/or basic need in our community.

Already, community contributions have ensured Estes Valley Crisis Advocates (EVCA) employees can work remotely. EVCA provides essential advocacy services to survivors of crime and trauma and offers safe housing for domestic violence survivors, counseling, and referrals for services. $2000 will purchase laptops; this allows their employees to extend counseling services beyond open office hours.

Nonprofits have requested support for utilities and program materials. Some are asking for operational support to boost programs that provide income opportunities. Allow us to be able to SAY YES when our nonprofit stakeholders, holding ever See EPNRC, pg. 27

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