News

Season of Giving surveys nonprofit landscape

By Lightning Reports, Published: November 23, 2023

In our annual survey of nonprofit leaders, we asked how they had restocked their volunteer corps as the pandemic ended, what services they provide that saves taxpayers money, what impediments they face in carrying out their mission and — for Thanksgiving week — what they’re thankful for.

Responses were submitted by:

• Loretta Shelton, vice president of development & community relations, Black Mountain Children’s Home
• Lauren Wilkie, executive director, and Carrie Israel, volunteer and outreach manager, Safelight
• Denise Long, executive director of the United Way
• Laura Jeffords, executive director of the Mediation Center, Asheville
• Emma Wilson, development and communications coordinator, Council on Aging for Henderson County
• Jeremy Weber, community relations coordinator, The Free Clinics
• David Lambert, president, Homes For Youth Inc.
• Steve D. Pettis, commercial and consumer horticulture agent, N.C. Cooperative Extension Service
• Krissey Browder Masotti, development and communications director, Thrive
• Kara Irani, director of marketing and communications, MANNA FoodBank
• Elizabeth Willson Moss, executive director, Interfaith Assistance Ministry
• Baylee Huff, volunteer & education manager; Karla Pan, senior director of lifesaving; and Angela Prodrick, executive director, Blue Ridge Humane Society

Now that the pandemic is behind us, have you managed to restock your corps of volunteers? Was that like starting over with volunteer recruitment, onboarding and training?

Shelton: As we emerge from the pandemic, we have seen a moderate return of our volunteers, with a significant portion, but not all, either continuing through or rejoining our efforts. This has required us to intensify our initiatives in volunteer recruitment, onboarding, and training, somewhat akin to starting afresh. Despite making steady progress, we continue to need volunteers.

Israel: Safelight has been blessed with volunteers who are passionate about our mission and many of our volunteers returned after the pandemic. There are areas in the organization that we no longer have volunteers, for everyone’s safety as Covid continues. And new opportunities for volunteers in other programs. Our Outreach program partners with volunteer recruitment, allowing us to be at events for recruitment and awareness. Our volunteers receive onboarding and ongoing annual trainings.

Gibson: We were fortunate to not have many volunteers leave during the pandemic. We had a new volunteer training last year and got a handful of new volunteers from that.

Huff: While COVID shut down Blue Ridge Humane's volunteer program, we were very fortunate to have many dedicated volunteers who waited for us to reopen. As we move further away from the pandemic, we have moved back to some in-person onboarding/training, but Zoom remains a big part of how we onboard. Being able to provide this combination of virtual and in-person onboarding has made our program more accessible to members of the public looking to serve their community.

Long: Since the pandemic, we have actually seen resurgence in community volunteers wishing to participate in our Days of Caring benefitting local nonprofits and Day of Action, assisting our schools get ready for the new academic year. I think people have been hungry to get back involved and to find hands on projects that benefit the community.

Jeffords: The Mediation Center needs more volunteer mediators. Our free, 50-hour community mediation training is coming up in February. Interested community members are invited to e-mail Executive Director Laura Jeffords at laurahj@mediatewnc.org for more information. We seek diversity in socioeconomic, educational, and racial/ethic backgrounds. People of all ages (16+) are welcome.

Wilson: The Council on Aging is blessed to have a highly dedicated volunteer base. We currently have more than 250 volunteers, giving nearly 20,000 hours of their time annually. Many of those volunteers actually started with us during the pandemic when we were at a great need for Meals on Wheels drivers. Now, our volunteer coordinator is receiving applications daily from new volunteers or those returning since the pandemic!

Weber: While the pandemic may be behind us, Covid-19 remains a prominent concern in the health community. Though vaccines, education about the virus and its various strains, and heightened precautions by the public have made Covid impact manageable, there is still a strong hesitancy amongst many groups who once populated our volunteer pool. As a result, our numbers are still down compared to years before the pandemic, but we’re making new connections and finding that loads of people are invested in community health.

Lambert: For example, in the past year we have been sponsored by the Henderson County Welcome Club. Not only did they give us a generous donation but they also provided many hours of volunteer help at our H4Y Foster House. When we were transitioning to a new set of foster parents they provided cleanup and maintenance labor. Also, when the children’s bedrooms were being renovated they provided volunteers to paint rooms and assemble new furniture.

Pettis: Being an educational institution, we were a point source for information during the pandemic and we never closed our doors. In fact our volunteer numbers actually increased. People were so eager for something to do! Working as we do with farmers and landscapers who were labelled ‘essential workers’ and gardeners who were stuck at home, we never stopped delivering research based information from N.C. State University to the people of Henderson County.

Masotti: While we haven’t fully reached our pre-pandemic volunteer levels, there’s been a noticeable surge of enthusiasm from the community to join Thrive’s mission. Many community members are eager to lend a hand, whether it’s assisting our housing clients with relocation or fulfilling essential needs. We’re actively engaging with the community to inspire more individuals to volunteer at both the Clubhouse and within our housing program.

Irani: During the pandemic, many new volunteers came to MANNA. We continue to welcome a regular flow of new volunteers who work alongside many dedicated regular volunteers. We are fortunate to have hundreds of volunteers who come to MANNA weekly or monthly, and many of those regular volunteers worked throughout the pandemic to keep MANNA’s operations running on overdrive. The pandemic did give us an opportunity to streamline our onboarding process, which has mostly moved online.

Moss: IAM is extremely blessed to now have more than 200 volunteers again, down from more than 300 during the pandemic. We have streamlined many of our processes so we can operate with fewer volunteers but desperately need truck drivers and bilingual interviewers. We also always need food pantry and clothing volunteers. Volunteers in our intake department, who interview our neighbors in need, must undergo six hours of training before they start.

We know that nonprofits provide millions of dollars’ worth of service that are supported by grants and donations, not taxpayers. What are some examples of services your agency provides that the government otherwise would have to provide?

Irani: At our core, MANNA is a large network of caring community members who take daily action to ensure our neighbors have food because of the gap in public support. There are two main ingredients to this daily work: volunteer and food donations. The majority of food MANNA distributes is donated or supported by private sources, and distributed through 250-plus private nonprofit partners who are mostly volunteer run. (Only 17 percent of our total food came from federal or state government last year.)

Masotti: Thrive provides essential mental health and housing services to the most vulnerable members of our community. The Clubhouse works to teach members essential life skills, leading to less hospitalizations and incarcerations. Research shows that a third of all ER visits are made by those who are chronically homeless and 80 percent of those visits are for routine care. Our housing program gets these individuals into permanent housing with support services, reducing ER visits by 61 percent.

Pettis: Technically, we are a government agency. Our agriculture and natural resources agents deliver services that aid farmers, landscape industry professionals, land managers and home gardeners, our family and consumer sciences and EFNEP Agents deliver health and wellness information to families and our 4-H Agents specialize in youth development. Many of our programs are free to clientele.

Pan: We provide an incredible number of services to our community! In 2022, we pulled 784 animals from Henderson County Animal Services. That is 784 animals the county would have had to pay to care for. In 2021, the average cost of care per day at the county shelter was $320. Additionally, through our Community Support programs, we provide low-cost vaccine clinics, vet assistance vouchers, pet food giveaways, and low-cost spay-neuter.

Lambert: Our primary service supplements the number of beds available to DSS to house our community’s foster children. Currently we lease the home to Crossnore Communities for Children to house their foster parents for a very low fee. This program includes paying professional foster parents and additional counseling services that the government does not fully compensate. Crossnore and DSS would not be able to fund this program if they also had to pay for the house.

Weber: The Free Clinics provides health care to folks living largely below the poverty line in Henderson and Polk counties at little to no cost. In most cases, the services we provide are totally free. TFC serves clients seeking help with acute and chronic issues and wraps them with innovative primary medical care, behavioral health services, pharmaceutical support, and more. We indeed receive a great deal of funding through grants and donations because our supporters know that TFC’s services reduce the inappropriate use of ERs for non-emergency treatment, and our influence can be seen and felt in emergency rooms and urgent care facilities across the county.

 
Wilson: While the Council on Aging is actively advocating for a senior center in our community, our congregate dining program offers seniors a space to socialize, learn about resources in the community, and provides a nutritious meal Monday-Friday. While not a replacement for a senior center, it does offer similar benefits to active seniors looking to build community.

Gibson: We provide cultural heritage opportunities for both students and adults. Visitors are able to experience the past by stepping back into history and learning how things have changed over time.

Jeffords: The Mediation Center provides conflict resolution services to people who would otherwise use the police and court systems to address interpersonal conflict. People who participate in mediation are not only diverted from these systems, they are less likely to use them in the future to address family, neighborhood, community and workplace disputes.

Long: For every dollar received, United Way puts over $1 of value back into our community — a total value over $1.7 million. This includes direct funding support to local nonprofit agencies, many of whom do not receive government support but who provide vital services to our community. It also includes all of the in-kind, other services and volunteer support that United Way galvanizes for our community, including 2-1-1, My Free Taxes, Singlecare, emergency clothing, food, and book drives, and programs like Rising Leaders and Girls Empowered.

Wilkie: Through our continuum of programs, we help survivors begin the process of overcoming the physical and emotional trauma these include a 24/7 emergency shelter and hotline for survivors, counseling center with individual and support group services, an accredited child advocacy center performing child medical exams and forensic interviews, a family advocacy center offering legal, law enforcement and medical advocacy and support, community engagement focused on long term employment and financial security with onsite safe paid job training, and outreach programs for prevention and education in our community. By removing barriers, Safelight’s services heal lives and create a safer, healthier community.

Shelton: Each year, we offer a nurturing home to approximately 170 children. Only about 40 percent of our annual budget is covered by county/state funding. The majority of our work, especially crucial wrap-around services, educational assistance, and other vital programs, is made possible through philanthropic support. These contributions are indispensable in enabling us to fill a significant gap in services.

What is the biggest impediment you face in delivering services and what do you think could be done to overcome it?

Weber: One of the most significant impediments facing TFC is the lack of public transportation available to eligible residents.. Another significant struggle is the task of successfully communicating our mission, vision, and services to the people who need us. The Free Clinics will be looking deeper into overcoming these blockades in 2024.

Lambert: The dropout rate for foster parents is very high, it’s a tough job. Half of all foster parents quit during the first year. This makes keeping a steady supply of trained volunteer foster parents on had very difficult. This problem can be mitigated by having a solid base of professional foster parents that can provide a baseline capacity for fostering in our community.

Wilson: Like many nonprofits, specifically in elder services, we’re facing the issue of reduced funding with increased demand for services. To be as prepared as possible to serve our increasing senior population, we are collaborating with other community partners, service providers, funders, and other stakeholders who are committed to working with us to achieve our mutual mission of ensuring our elders age with dignity.

Gibson: I think the biggest impediment is just so much to do with limited time. Even with great volunteers, I am the only staff member and I have to say no to some things that would be great because I simply don't have the time.

Pettis: Our main impediment is a lack of awareness in the community of our free services. However, we are steadily working to increase community awareness about Henderson County Cooperative Extension. We literally offer programs that can benefit everyone.

Jeffords: We have experienced a large increase in demand for our services post-pandemic. Additional financial resources and volunteer mediators are needed to meet this demand.

Israel: Affordable housing, childcare, and sustainable employment are barriers that often leave our neighbors stuck in situations that are not healthy or safe. This is the tip of the iceberg as we also know that intensive treatment for substance use and mental health, that is local and affordable, is also a huge challenge once clients are ready to address these issues.

Pan: The largest obstacle in delivering services is the complexity of animal welfare, and the lack of access to pet care that many pet owners face. We will continue to build relationships to meet the needs of our community. Some things that supporters can do to help us move past these obstacles are: Donate, Volunteer, Adopt, and help share our programs with pet owners!

Masotti: In our housing program, our biggest impediment is the housing shortage in our area. We currently have about 350 households on our waitlist and are working tirelessly to match each household to permanent housing. We can reduce this impediment by increasing the number of landlords who work with our organization, making more housing available to our clients.

Irani: The most significant impediment we face is the pervasive challenge of food insecurity. The economic realities in WNC put immense pressure on working families, and we continue to see record numbers of people turning to us and our partners for food. This chronically high demand necessitates a constant supply of nutritious food – right now, we are serving an average of more than 160,000 people every single month. The pandemic has also had a deep impact on the amount of food donations we receive; food costs and supply chain challenges continue to make sourcing food a challenge.

 

Shelton: Continued cuts in government funding, while at the same time, the number of children in care continues to rise and the complexity of the traumas they have faced are every increasing.

Moss: Definitely funding. As more and more of our residents who were living pay check to pay check come to us seeking food via our Mobile Food Pantry or our everyday Neighbors Choice shopping in our food pantry, assistance with rents that are the second highest in the state and assistance with the rising costs of utility bills, we need more financial donations from businesses, individual donors and local governments to help IAM assist our poorest residents.

A glorious fall has us feeling thankful. Please tell us about the people, activities or events you’re thankful for and why.

Jeffords: We are thankful for the volunteer mediators who support community members in finding collaborative, peaceful, solutions to difficult and stressful conflicts. These volunteers give countless hours each year to create a safer and more peaceful community for everyone.

Moss: At IAM, I thank the Lord every day to serve in a job that makes an important impact on the lives of our local residents who are barely making it, not making it and those who need our help just once or twice to get back on their feet. On behalf of the local children and adults we serve at IAM, we are most grateful to our individual donors, grantors, business supporters and tireless and caring volunteers, staff and our Board of Directors. God bless you all.

Pettis: We are thankful for the support that we get from the Henderson County government and N.C. State University. Also, we could not do what we do without the help of our many volunteers (4-H, Master Gardener, Master Pomologist, FCS Food Volunteers, Farm City Day). We are also grateful to serve the fine people of Henderson County.

Wilson: The Council on Aging is grateful for all of our dedicated staff, volunteers, donors and community partners. We’re blessed to be able to provide service to hundreds of seniors in our community who provide a wealth of wisdom, history and experience. It’s only together that we can make our vision possible: No One Ages Alone.

Weber: The Free Clinics is profoundly grateful for the unwavering support of countless local organizations, communities, and individuals. The fact that we are entering our 22nd year is unprecedented in the world of free clinics. This accomplishment speaks volumes to the comradery, investment in community health, and philanthropic integrity of our community. Our impact would surely be less profound without the monetary and in-kind contributions of our volunteers, donors, local communities who rally together to support us, the local businesses that sponsor our events and the doctors and nurses who volunteer at our clinics each week.

Shelton: We appreciate our prayer partners, volunteers, donors, and ministry partners, whose unwavering commitment make our work possible. We are deeply grateful for our dedicated staff, who consistently prioritize the needs of the children entrusted to our care. Above all, we are thankful to God for entrusting us with the humbling and noble task of caring for families and children in need, fulfilling the call of service as guided by His Word.

Prodrick: As the season of gratitude surrounds us, I am filled with immense appreciation and warmth for each and every one of you who has dedicated your time, resources, and compassion to the animals of our community. As we gather with our loved ones to celebrate the spirit of togetherness and abundance, we want you to know that your contributions, whether big or small, are lifesaving.

Lambert: We have been blessed with many generous donors who believe that it is our community’s responsibility to take care of our children. Their faithfulness puts us position to buy a second house and extent that base of foster homes in our county. We are also thankful for our partnership with Crossnore, which shares our vision of expanding our community’s base of foster homes. We supply the infrastructure and they provide the expertise and services.

Wilkie: We can’t do this without you! By partnering with us, you help save lives in Henderson County.  Please continue to tell people you meet about Safelight. Volunteer, eat at our café, and shop at our store supporting our mission! Visit and tour with me and Trinka to see what we are building as we open in December our first pet kennels for our shelter residents, so pets can flee violence too. You help us create a space that continues transforming lives for Henderson County. Thank you to our incredible board members, donors, volunteers, partners, and community. Thank you for believing in what we do. You are all a part of this journey helping us change over 45,000 lives since 1984. Thank you for supporting safelight and saving survivors in Henderson County with us.

Irani: We are deeply grateful for our volunteers who donate their time so generously every year. It is because of their dedication that we are able to serve a staggeringly high need - more than 155,000 neighbors each month - right now. In the last year, 3,000 volunteers have given over 55,000 hours of their time, which is the equivalent of 28 full-time staff! Because of this, we are able to be good stewards of donations and stretch every dollar given to help provide four meals for our neighbors.

Masotti: Thrive is incredibly thankful for all of our donors, grantors, volunteers, and our community! Whether it’s financially supporting the Clubhouse, helping a client move into permanent housing for the first time, or donating essential items to those who have nothing, your support helps us to further our mission of serving the most vulnerable people in our community every single day. We cannot say thank you enough!

Gibson: I am thankful for the volunteers that keep the farm running. They help with literally everything, and I could not do my job without them. I am also thankful to our donors (many of which are volunteers) that give to the organization to help with expenses. Without these donors, we would have to seriously cut back on the programs we offer.

Long: We are especially thankful to celebrate United Way’s 70th Anniversary this past year. In 1953, a group of Henderson County citizens had a new vision for meeting community needs and banded together to create the Henderson County United Fund. Seventy years later, we are still pursuing and expanding this vision, bringing people and resources together in order to make life better for vulnerable people in our community. Since our humble beginnings, we have raised over $60 million, funds that flowed back to the community and created positive change. We are truly grateful for the many people and businesses throughout the years who have made this possible and proud of all that we have been able to accomplish together.