SLO County charities like Woods and KCBX are in jeopardy. Here’s how you can help

This was supposed to have been a banner year for Woods Humane Society.

It turns 65, and it planned to go all out for its annual “Tails” fundraising bash scheduled for June 13. But like many other nonprofits in San Luis Obispo County, it had to change course when coronavirus struck.

The gala has been postponed until 2021, and Woods has pivoted to a “virtual” event — an online birthday celebration from May 18-23 that will include an auction and a look back at the organization’s history.

For dozens of nonprofits in San Luis Obispo County, a lot is riding on the success of online fundraisers that have replaced popular concerts, wine tastings and charity runs that collectively raise hundreds of thousands of dollars.

KCBX Public Radio, for example, typically raised around $100,000 from its popular Live Oak Music Festival, which has been canceled.

It also changed up its spring pledge drive. It couldn’t bring a group of people into the studio to answer phone calls, so it switched to a “silent” online drive — and the results were gratifying. It raised more than it usually does during a pledge drive, according to General Manager Frank Lanzone.

Yet the station is still down around $250,000, between canceling Live Oak and losing underwriting revenue from companies that have their own financial struggles.

What’s been canceled or postponed

The list of annual fundraising events that have been canceled for 2020 or postponed until later this year keeps growing.

Here are some:

• CASA Hope for the Future, gala and auction, canceled for 2020
• Miracle Miles for Kids, Family Care Network, canceled for 2020
• Blueprints and Bluejeans, Habitat for Humanity, canceled for 2020
• Flavors of SLO, a benefit for United Way, canceled for 2020
• Dancing with Our Stars, a benefit for Atascadero Library, postponed until Sept. 17
• Tip-a-Cop dinners, benefiting Special Olympics, postponed until October
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters Big Event, postponed until Nov. 7.

One of the county’s best-known fundraisers, the fashion show at the Madonna Inn Expo Center, had already been canceled for 2020; the sponsoring organization had decided to take a year off to regroup.

Cutting back

Many organizations have scaled back their services — except for food banks, homeless service providers and nonprofit medical clinics. They face more demands than ever, and given the state of the economy, that’s likely to continue for a long time.

In some cases, they’ve gotten emergency funds to expand services during the COVID-19 crisis. The SLO Food Bank, for example, has a county contract to deliver food to around 1,000 residents who are self-isolating.

That’s excellent news. Of course basic needs — food, emergency shelter, medical care and public safety — must take priority right now.

But there are dozens of local organizations that play key roles.

For example, where would we be without the volunteers from Hospice of San Luis Obispo County?

Or the support to young adults who have “aged out” of the foster care system, provided by Family Care Network?

Or the affordable housing built by People’s Self-Help Housing?

These organizations can’t fail. That would leave a huge gap in services at a critical time when many people need them more than ever.

Take the local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, which continues to provide critical support to caregivers.

“For them, pandemic or not, it is still a 24/7 job care-giving,” Sonya Branco, development director for the Central Coast Alzheimer’s Association, told The Tribune via email.

The organization’s annual fundraiser, A Walk to End Alzheimer’s, is still scheduled for Oct. 31.

“It may look quite different and in the end it might become a virtual walk depending on what our governor decides,” said Branco. “So for now we are fundraising, and people are still forming their teams.”

Big Brothers/Big Sisters is another organization committed to continuing its mission.

“Bigs” and “Littles” can’t meet in person, but they are connecting online, by phone and even by letter.

It’s especially important to keep mentorship relationships going now. When families are under stress and, in many cases, sheltering at home together 24/7, children’s safety is more at risk.

How to help

There are huge needs right now: Small businesses need customers to survive; people out of work need jobs; tenants need to pay their rent and utilities.

It can be overwhelming.

Here’s a suggestion: If you are in a position to help, check out this list and pick one or two items. Then mark next year’s calendar. Woods will be celebrating its 66th birthday and — fingers crossed — we’ll be meeting in real life at Live Oak.

• Don’t really need your stimulus check? Share it with an organization that’s helping folks who are out of work, or consider the Community Foundation or United Way, which distribute the contributions they receive to a variety of nonprofits.
• Keep an eye out for any “virtual” events that are on tap, and use social media to encourage friends to join. One example: Morro Bay’s annual Brian Waterbury Memorial Rock to Pier Fun Run scheduled for July 25 is canceled, but it’s gone virtual. Online registration is still going on, but instead of running together on the beach, participants will be running alone, in their neighborhoods or an a treadmill — and their T-shirts and other race swag will be mailed out to them. Proceeds will benefit youth sports in Morro Bay.
• If you purchased a ticket for an event that’s been canceled, allow the organization to keep the funds, rather than seeking a refund. Then, if you’re in a position to do so, buy another ticket next year.
• Offer a social-distance-friendly service or product to friends and neighbors, and donate some or all of the proceeds to a favorite organization. Garage sales are out, but “porch portraits” — outdoor photos taken at a social distance — are hugely popular right now, and stylish face masks have become a thing.
• Support local businesses that help sponsor nonprofit events, like wineries and restaurants and caterers. They’ve been hit hard, and your continued support is a show of appreciation for all they’ve provided to the community.
• Check out people-helping-people websites — helpslo.com is an excellent one — to connect with agencies and individuals in need of donated items or volunteers.
• Consider buying products from companies that donate some of their proceeds to charities providing coronavirus relief.
• Add to this list! Contact us at letters@thetribunenews.com with more ideas on how to keep organizations going during what, for many, is the most challenging time in their history.