Giving Tuesday
A day for doing good. See inside for more information SanDiegoUnionTribune.com/giving-tuesday
The Food Bank relies on volunteers to sort, pack and distribute food to our clients every month. The Food Bank welcomes all volunteers including corporate volunteer groups for teambuilding opportunities. Visit www.SanDiegoFoodBank.org/Volunteer for information and to register.
Q: How does a monetary donation benefit your nonprofit?
For every dollar donated, the Food Bank can provide five meals to families in need. This holiday season, donate to the Food Bank as a holiday gift for a loved one online. Your honoree will receive a letter of acknowledgment and thanks from the Food Bank.
Q: How has COVID-19 affected your nonprofit in 2021 versus prior years?
Before the COVID-19 pandemic impacted our community, the Food Bank provided food assistance to 350,000 people per month. This increased to 600,000 at the height of the COVID crisis, and now the Food Bank is feeding 550,000 people per month due to COVID-19’s lasting impact on our local economy. Despite recent improvements in the economy and the lifting of California’s pandemic restrictions, tens of thousands of families in communities throughout San Diego County continue to struggle with food insecurity and rely on help from the Food Bank. The Food Bank anticipates that this heightened need will last into 2022 and beyond. That is why the Food Bank is asking the community to continue to support our hunger-relief programs.
Q: What impact would your nonprofit expect to make on the community in 2022?
The Food Bank continues to feed record numbers of people. Currently, the Food Bank is feeding an average of 550,000 per month through our network of 500 nonprofit partners, our 200 direct food distributions, and through our 35 Super Pantries, which are high-volume distribution hubs open throughout the week. The Food Bank will continue to meet increased need among its client population thanks to support from our donors and the community.
Q: How can the community support the Food Bank this holiday season?
We are encouraging the community to visit Albertsons and Vons and donate to the Food Bank at checkout. Every dollar donated will provide holiday meals to families in need. Community groups and businesses can also host a virtual food drive or physical food drive at their school or business.
A Step Beyond James Wright, CEO Q: How important are volunteers to your nonprofit?
Volunteers are extremely important to all aspects of A Step Beyond’s (ASB) program. They support one-onone academic tutoring, speak to students about college and career experiences, offer master classes in dance, support food distributions for families, and lend their expertise to various organization committees. ASB also benefits from its partnership with local universities that provide graduate students in social work who support counseling for students and families.
Q: How does a monetary donation benefit your nonprofit?
Monetary donations are crucial to the continued success of ASB and the community we serve. Our highly efficient organizational model and the generous support of our donors allows ASB to underwrite the entire cost of our 10-year program for 230-plus students free of charge. These students are all members of local families who live at or below the poverty line and may not otherwise have the opportunity to access the dance, academics, counseling support and family services that ASB provides. Philanthropic support is especially important now, as the pandemic has increased the needs of ASB students and their families.
Q: How has COVID-19 affected your nonprofit in 2021 versus prior years?
ASB has felt the impact of the pandemic, both financially and programmatically. The organization increased costs to meet the urgent learning needs of its youth and invested in safety protocols on its campus to support a hybrid program last year. Fundraising was impacted in early 2021, with delays in many funding cycles and, in some cases, a change in priorities by some long-standing funders. ASB continued to serve students throughout 2021 by providing both a quality online experience and safe inperson programming. Crisis intervention support, such as the ongoing distribution of emergency food, rent and utility support, continued to play a more prominent role in our programming than in prior years.
Q: What impact would your nonprofit expect to make on the community in 2022?
ASB will continue to make a tremendous impact in preparing students in North San Diego County for success in college, career and life. In 2022, ASB expects to help its students improve their GPAs, grow their essential skills, provide an outlet for artistic expression, navigate the college application process, and understand the world of work after the COVID-19 pandemic. ASB also expects to support families with counseling and other resources to improve their lives.
Q: Why dance education?
Dance education is a powerful way for youth to become engaged in their academic and career journey. Research indicates dance education enhances emotional well-being, reduces stress and mitigates symptoms of anxiety or depression. It fills the innate desire of youth to move and express themselves, especially in a time of sedentary learning. Strong kinetic dance arts programs activate multiple systems in students’ brains, helping students make connections between new and past learning, holding students’ attention for longer periods of time, and improving long-term recall.