I became the interim executive director at the end of January 2020 and began the process of settling in and figuring out how this place operates.
By the end of February, we learned that FFGE faced a critical cash shortage due to some missed deadlines for grants. So the Board, a new grant writer, and I swung into high gear.
Beginning the month of March with only 14 days of cash reserves on hand was a stressful predicament, but thanks to a combination of your gifts, grants, and government support, we now have 8 to 10 months of cash in the bank.
The target amount of cash reserves for nonprofit organizations is one year, so we still have work to do. But I’m pleased to report that we now have the resources to adequately respond to the needs before us, and for that, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to you.
Thank you!
The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that most everything we do is now done differently:
- About half of our volunteers had to step back due to the virus, but 200 new volunteers stepped forward.
- We will have to cancel our major fundraisers of the year, but the community has stepped up to fill those gaps. Over 345 people donated to us in April alone, and while we will need to raise about $200,000 more by the end of 2020, we have already raised over $400,000.
- Our traditional sources of donated food, the grocery stores, and Amazon, dried up. But our donors gave us the ability to purchase food from Northern Illinois Food Bank.
- We responded and continue to respond to new sources of hunger in our communities, getting food to Elgin Community College students, low-income senior communities, and other pockets of hunger.
- In April, the number of households served by our warehouse distributions dropped by almost 200, but the total number of households served increased by almost 300 because we have been delivering food to people in need.
- We now supply any of the smaller food pantries who want assistance in keeping their cupboards full.
- We’ve worked hard to minimize our volunteer’s exposure to the virus. The facility is cleaned daily, professionally sanitized once a week, and everyone who comes in is masked and has their temperature taken.
- Every week is new with our course of action dictated by our mission to end food insecurity even in these most challenging times.
None of this would have happened if it had not been for the outstanding support that you have given to Food For Greater Elgin. Thank you!
In gratitude,
Dr. Michael H. Montgomery
Interim Executive Director