SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | APRIL 5, 2020
Neighbors
NEIGHBORS
Scottsdale.org l
@ScottsdaleProgress
21
/ScottsdaleProgress
Nonprofits look to ‘Giving Week’ for help BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer
S
cottsdale nonprofit Family Promise of Greater Phoenix heavily relies on more than 100 volunteers who care for homeless families by making them meals and offering them space to sleep. But in the wake of social-distancing guidelines, the nonprofit has ceased standard operations and taken all operations in-house, putting a tremendous strain on their staff. “What took an average of 105 congregational volunteers each week to care for these families, we’re now doing with 10 full-time employees,” said Ted Taylor, Family Promise of Greater Phoenix executive director. “We are currently housing 13 families at our day center in south Scottsdale and we are ordering meals from restaurants to feed the families.”
Foothills Animal Rescue staff member Natalie Sopa is seen here scratching Harley’s belly. This year, Foothills Animal Rescue will use the money raised from Arizona Gives Day on shelter operations. (Foothills Animal Rescue)
Family Promise is just one of many nonprofits tremendously impacted by the coronavirus, whether it be limited resources or financial resources. An Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits survey of nonprofit organizations statewide showed that nearly 90 percent of the 364 respondents have been or expect to be significantly impacted by the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19. As of March 20, the total reported loss of revenue was nearly $30 million. Of those organizations impacted, more than 83 percent reported decreased revenue from canceled events and 54 percent indicated a disruption of services to clients and communities. “It’s incredibly difficult to watch this happening and we’re certainly much too early in the process to even try to deter-
see NONPROFITS page 22
Easter display sheds light in a dark time BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer
S
outhern Scottsdale resident Chris Birkett was hesitant to put up his Easter lights display this year. He explained that he was afraid his neighbors would think it was insensitive to the coronavirus pandemic – “like, ‘Oh, you’re just ignoring what is going on?’” “But then I hear that voice in my head,” Birkett added. “’Build it and they will come.’” And he did just that, Birkett completed his Easter lights display on March 21 and will keep them up until April 15. “I realize when they come this year it's going to mean more than ever to each and every single one of these human beings and that this is why I was brought here,”
Chris Birkett finished his Easter lights display on March 21 and will keep them up through April 15. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)
Birkett said. “I realized really quickly how important what I do was – ‘enlightening’ people’s lives.” In addition to 2,400 lights, the display has plenty of extra-large, custom-made Easter props and outdoor decor, including an inflatable train Birkett calls the Easter Egg Express. “I have a couple of vintage Easter eggs that haven’t sold for years. It’s from the ‘40s and ‘50s range, maybe as late as the ‘60s. Anybody who’s a vintage fan will remember these things,” he said. Birkett began creating extravagant light displays when he was 11 and nearly 35 years later, nothing will stop him from creating these displays for his community – not even the pandemic. “People are like, ‘I don’t understand why
see EASTER LIGHTS page 22
