NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — This year has nonprofits spread thin. They've been forced to adapt to fewer donations and higher demand, which is why 2020's Giving Tuesday is especially important.
2020 has tested the resilience of families.
"The pandemic and the tornado has been a double whammy for everyone in Middle Tennessee," said Nancy Keil, the CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. "We’ve seen about a 50 percent increase in need of families children and seniors who are now food insecure."
Keil explained there's a lot of work to do to serve the community.
"It's important to mention there is 1 in 6 people, including 1 in 5 children, who are food insecure and those numbers are amplified because of COVID," said Keil.
Some who have lived comfortably, are now finding themselves needing help for the first time. For the Nashville Diaper Connection, they are seeing record-breaking numbers this year.
"We were giving away about 76,000 diapers a month," said Heidi Hayne, "after the tornado and pandemic we increased to about 220,000 diapers a month because families were losing their jobs and families couldn't send kids to daycare."
Over at the YWCA, CEO Sharon Roberson says they were also seeing a significant increase of those who have called to ask for help.
"Safer at home is not safer for everyone it’s been a very difficult situation for those affected by domestic violence situations," said Roberson. "Nonprofits live and breathe based on how well the community is receptive and gives back."
Roberson tells me that they are focusing their "Giving Tuesday" donations on their Family Learning Center.
It helps adults earn their High School Equivalency Degree.
"The reason why we think this is so important this year is that people losing jobs and not having opportunity it is very important they have education," Roberson said, "education is the foundation of you changing your life and your family lives."
One report showed that nonprofits across the country could be losing as much as 20 percent of the donations they expect to get in a year. Organizations have been forced to cancel their fundraiser events because of the pandemic. That's why Giving Tuesday isn't simply about donating money, but uplifting our community.
"It’s just a very important day nonprofits are stressed very very thin we have a lot of people who are suffering economics have worked against us so we need to support nonprofits who are lifting people up," Roberson said.
Nashville Diaper Connection said a donation of $20 dollars purchases 100 diapers which serves two babies a month.
"Our dollar goes 3 times as far as your dollar so we are able to purchase a lot more diapers with those dollars donated especially now with that increase need that we talked about dollar-wise that's over 18,000 dollars more a month that we need to cover the need that we are serving right now," said volunteer coordinator Carey Morgan.
Nashville Diaper Connection says they've had to get creative with their fundraisers. They have a virtual diaper drive happening now through December 6th.
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