COVID-19 prompts shift in Stanislaus Haven’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
During this pandemic, many small businesses throughout Stanislaus County are struggling to remain afloat and have engaged in some highly creative ways to keep revenue coming into their coffers.
For a nonprofit agency relying largely on fundraising and private donations, this time is somewhat like walking a tightrope. Donors may not be able to provide the same level of financial support as they have in prior years, and in-person fundraising is a safety concern due to the coronavirus and social distancing requirements.
I spoke with May Rico, executive director of Haven Women’s Center of Stanislaus, about navigating fundraising concerns during a pandemic. She had this to say: “We were originally very concerned about the impact of COVID to donations. We had to postpone our major fundraising event for the year, Walk a Mile in Her Shoes. With all the layoffs and businesses closing, we knew many of our supporters may not have the resources to donate until the economy opened back up.”
Haven also had to strategize and make changes to services to keep both clients and staff safe. These modifications created additional costs so they could remain open while adhering to COVID safety protocols.
May said her staff was “so humbled when we started getting calls from donors and foundations all asking the same question: `What do you need right now?’”
Those donations and grants kept Haven operating and assisted with necessary expenditures to keep its doors open so staff could continue to provide these desperately needed services. Ms. Rico said, “Initially we had some big COVID-related expenses that we were able to match with donations, and we should be good through the end of the year at least with our additional ongoing expenses. But we still have all our pre-COVID expenses as well, and a steady flow of general support is crucial to keeping the agency stable and healthy.”
Haven’s annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event was crucial to this effort. The Walk a Mile committee was forced to really think long and hard about what a fundraiser would look like during COVID. The event was reimagined to include the necessary protocols to keep participants safe. The committee concluded that collaborative partnerships and a lot of creativity would be necessary to have a viable, safe fundraiser.
Brandy Van Horn, Walk a Mile coordinator, said Haven will hold a fundraiser in the fall. She said, “We are mindful of the current environment in our society and the pandemic that affects us all. We want to promote Haven and our mission to serve domestic and sexual abuse victims as well as respect the safety of our staff, supporters, and the Stanislaus County community.”
Brandy talked about setting up the collaborative effort that goes into getting an event such as this off the ground. “With safety in mind, yet wanting to have an in-person event, we will be collaborating with the State Theatre and the Modesto Nuts with a drive-in fundraiser. It will be a different event this year, with some of the same peer-to-peer fundraising to raise money for our Haven programs, but we have brainstormed an idea where people will be able to come together safely and click their heels for Haven with a fun family evening.”
Haven and other local nonprofits have risen to the challenge to create safe, family-centered events to engage the community and garner necessary funding to keep providing services. Agencies such as Haven rely on the support of their community so that their doors remain open during COVID.