Local nonprofits get creative to stay afloat

Our local nonprofits do tremendous work in supporting the Boulder County community. However, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and market drop, they have taken a hit. Many have had to shift day-to-day operations and get creative with funding to ride out the current storm.

Via Mobility, which provides free or reduced cost transportation for older adults, people with disabilities, and others living with mobility limitations, has noted a 50 to 70% ridership decrease across its four ride divisions, of which three are income earning. The decrease has eaten into the non-profit's earnings significantly.

Through February, Via was on pace to double the number of rides it provides in Niwot from 2019, when 169 trips were provided. Typically, the group is able to subsidize the high cost of driver-assisted transportation and wheel-chair accessible vehicles by acting as a social enterprise. Via accepts contracts with government entities and applies the revenues to its mission. The organization also depends on individual and corporate donations, grants and local support.

While business has taken a hit and Via has had to furlough many of its drivers, they are covering both the employer and employee portion of the furloughed drivers' health insurance. Via's communications manager, Lyndsey Morse, described the current state of affairs at this necessary non-profit by email. "For now, we're up and running - and ready to help others when/where we can - but it's anything but 'normal.' Any staff who can work remotely is now working from home. All other staff that can't work from home - most of our folks, drivers, dispatchers, maintenance, detailers, etc.- are required to wear provided masks, both PPE for drivers on duty and cloth masks for all others, and abide by appropriate social distancing measures." Via is providing rides only in its larger vehicles so that it's drivers and riders may be six feet apart.

Looking towards the unpredictable future, Morse described the transition Via hopes to make. "I do foresee a shift to more localized on-demand transportation - a goal that we'd already been working towards pre-pandemic - as our communities realize the importance that accessible, affordable transportation options for all. We are also planning to continue to work towards a smaller carbon footprint by converting our fleet to electric and using our solar array (plus a lot more solar!) to power this fleet."

Another local non-profit, The Mwebaza Foundation, usually performs its daily operations remotely but is closely tied in with area elementary, middle, and high schools as well as working closely with its partner schools in Uganda. Outreach Manager Diedre Paterno Pai was inspired by many donors who stepped up to support Mwebaza and its mission. "Several of our donors jumped right in and made unsolicited gifts right away and that show of solidarity and support was really inspiring and gave us a lot of hope," she said. "It is hard to say at this point how impacted our ongoing fundraising will be."

As far as the non-profit's work in Niwot and Uganda is concerned, Pai said, "We are rescheduling fundraising events and delaying projects and important site visits. We also aren't meeting one on one with individual donors and are looking more towards foundations now."

Pai also stated that Mwebaza will continue to work on current projects as much as possible with the social distancing and travel restriction so they can be ready to roll when it is safe to do so. "While we are able to stay safe here in Colorado by continuing to work remotely, we worry more about the students and teachers we care about in Uganda. We hope that the situation there remains controlled and the kids can safely resume school next month. Ugandans are resilient and used to disruptions but we know the importance of education and that schools are a place for minds and bodies to grow. We don't know when we will be able to visit and plan projects that include buildings, solar power, computer labs, etc. The delay in our programming and the students not getting what they need is our biggest concern. We are working to make sure we are ready to launch the second danger has passed."

Meals on Wheels of Longmont has seen a significant uptick in their deliveries - adding 71 new clients. Communications Director Katie Wiser noted that, while MOW is doing alright financially, their food costs have nearly doubled because of operational changes due to COVID-19. In regards to funding, Wiser explained, "Almost half of our income is from individual donations, which is just remarkable! It shows a real level of support from the community, which we especially need right now. We also receive private and public grants and two competitive local government grants from the county and city."

This necessary service supplies food to a sector of our community in great need and has had to totally transform its daily operations to meet new regulations. Wiser stated, "Our model has completely changed. First, of course, our community lunches have been canceled. People who were regular patrons at these locations can now get home delivery. We're also taking on new clients who meet our regular requirements, older people in Longmont and Niwot or people with disabilities who struggle to prepare a meal for themselves."

Meals on Wheels usually relies on a bevy of volunteer kitchen aids to prep, cook, and pack meals but now is getting by with only three staff members. However, there is a silver lining in this - MOW and local restaurants are partnering together in order to feed the community. Wiser elaborated on this group effort, " Longmont Meals on Wheels is asking that these restaurants charge us as low as they can without hurting themselves, but we have budgeted that it will double food costs. Partnering with restaurants now not only helps social distancing efforts today but prepares partnerships should there be a quarantine in our kitchen in the future."

To help local non-profits, The Longmont Community Foundation's Neighbor-to-Neighbor COVID-19 Relief Fund granted $100,000 to various organizations in and around Boulder County. Of this $100,000 raised, Xilinx in Longmont donated $68,000 to the fund. In total, 33 non-profits received support money from the COVID-19 relief fund. Groups that local Niwot residents hold near and dear were among the recipients. Attention Homes, Boulder Shelter for the Homeless, Longmont Meals on Wheels, and others will undoubtedly benefit from this additional financial aid during the economic shift.

While the end to this pandemic is uncertain, our community remains consistent in its support and care for one another. Compassion and understanding can help pull us through, even in the most trying of times, so that when we arrive at the other side, it's brighter and more hopeful than ever before.