Nonprofits getting creative to survive

As hard as the Covid-19 pandemic has hit local businesses, agencies that rely on donations to do their work are finding they have to be especially creative to accomplish their goals.

Tomoka United Methodist Church in Ormond Beach came to the aid of Family Renew Community, a faith-based organization that provides shelter for homeless families with children, and helps them become self-sufficient. Its residential facilities are in Holly Hill, Daytona Beach and DeLand.

Winston G. Churchill, a church member, said early on in the Covid-19 crisis, several Ormond Beach churches stepped up as collection points for donations to Family Renew Community as well as Halifax Urban Ministries.

He and his wife were unable to find a drop-off point in Ormond Beach, so he approached FRC Executive Director Tony Deobil, and Rev. Jose Carrion and Missions Committee Chair Linda Silber, to see if the church could be a weekly drop-off site for FRC.

“Organizing was simple,” Mr. Churchhill said. “Just two volunteers and a couple of signs to direct cars to the drop point at the church was all that was required. We decided upon 9 a.m. to noon Thursday. There has been a good response and we hope for increases as more citizens become aware of this opportunity to help.”

The ever-present need for nonprofits is cash to allow them to direct the resource to the most useful action day-by-day, he said.

But there are many ways to help. One way is to bring donations like non-perishable foods, personal hygiene items, children's coloring books and diapers to the church at 1000 Old Tomoka Road.

Rev. Deobil said, “The folks at Tomoka UMC are awesome! They approached us about helping our families and it came just at the right time. This has been a very challenging time for ministries like Family Renew Community. It truly demonstrates the significance of a village working together to combat homelessness, especially when it comes to families with children. The folks at TUMC truly stepped up and have been a true blessing to all of us.”

Denise O’Toole Kelly, FRC development director, said the non-profit has 32 modest, furnished apartments at its three locations where families may stay for six months or longer — rent-free and with no utility bills — while parents work to overcome homelessness. Family Renew provides housing, intensive case management and other resources, but parents are responsible for feeding and caring for their families, keeping their apartments clean, paying personal debts and saving money for their move to permanent housing.

“Parents in about two-thirds of the homeless households we serve have lost their jobs or seen drastic cuts in their work hours because of the pandemic,” Ms. Kelly said. “This has interfered with their ability to meet their families’ basic needs for food, personal hygiene items, house-cleaning supplies and other essentials.”

Tomoka United Methodist is one of 21 congregations that are part of Family Renew Community, and many of them are stepping up to help in special ways in these difficult times, she noted.

Ms. Kelly added the public health threat has taken an emotional toll on the homeless children and parents served by Family Renew Community as many were just starting to let themselves believe in a more stable future when they were hit with the economic uncertainties and anxieties about the virus.

FRC had to cancel their single biggest annual fundraising event in May and their Secret Attic Thrift Store was closed for several weeks. A virtual “Stay-home Spring Soiree” presented by Bank of America, which includes a $500 prize drawing, a big Online Auction and a Facebook Watch Party will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 19. For more information, visit familyrenew.org/spring-soiree.

Another non-profit facing challenges and providing a critical service is the Beacon Center (formerly Domestic Abuse Council), which serves domestic violence victims throughout Volusia County.

Donations are down because, in an effort to protect their client population, donations were restricted with the exception of COVID 19- related items, such as cleaning supplies, masks and hand sanitizers.

The Department of Children and Families Domestic Violence Program in Tallahassee started shipping PPEs a few weeks into the pandemic, which has helped keep Beacon Center stocked. Several donors stepped up and provided needed toilet paper, paper towels and food.

Angie Pye, Beacon Center CEO, said, “The largest challenges for survivors already engaged in services was economic. All of the survivors in the residential program were working and had leads on housing. As a result of the ‘stay home’ order, they all lost their jobs and had to survive on the money they had saved for housing.”

Beacon Center continues to fund basic needs, such as food, clothing and personal items.

“Our organization was able to create space to ensure isolation of anyone symptomatic and ensure social distancing in the residential setting,” Ms. Pye said. “We have not had any concern with illness and all of the survivors we have served thus far have not had Covid. We have seen a 18% decrease in hotline calls over this time last year and a 21% decline in shelter beds over last year. The numbers are starting to go back up. Our staff began working remotely in March but are back in the office now.”

She added, “We implemented a new texting program, making our hotline (386) 255-2102 a text or call line that is monitored 24/7 so if survivors need to reach us while in a home with an abuser, they can do so quietly. Also, we are monitoring all social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, SnapChat and WhatsApp, in the event survivors reach out this way. We are still offering the ability to attend groups via Zoom or individual counseling via Zoom. Our legal team is still operational and can assist with Injunctions for Protection and Child Welfare cases – and these services are available technologically as well as in person – whatever the survivor is most comfortable with.”

For more information, visit mybeaconcenter.com.