Non-profits struggle to stay afloat

“normal” year, Beard said. “We’re going to be down to zero by the end of the year,” Beard lamented. “We’re going to have nothing in our till.” The club sends donations to needy organizations such as Northville Civic Concern, Seedlings Braille Books and the Beaumont Silent Children’s Fund, among others. “We’ve done a little bit of that this year, but we’re working off Northville Rotarians Vicky and Guy Bardsley have been promoting the group’s Tour de Ville event, which will be a virtual endeavor this year. of last year’s monies that we collected,” Beard said. “But if we ‘We’re Scared Right Now’ continue to give our money to these organizations, which we will, we will be down to zero.” Non-profit service clubs struggling to stay afloat during pandemic A virtuAl tour The Northville Rotary Club’s biggest fundraiser also got By Tim Smith stuck in the mud due to COVID, forcing the group’s annual Tour

With the wrath of lavender farm. us just to maybe stand on the de Ville bicycle marathon to COVID-19 not going When the pandemic corner and do collections. But become a “virtual” endeavor. away anytime soon, happened, the projects were put they would not let us do that.” Instead of participants Northville non-profit on hold or didn’t happen at all. And as a result, the Northville navigating routes anywhere service organizations are Money wasn’t generated, either. Lions’ budget is seriously from 10 to 75 miles, they are struggling to do their trademark “We had all these events depleted. Beard just hopes paying less to merely ride bikes projects, fundraisers and good- scheduled, and all these galas the group can ride it out until in and around Northville – old community service. to raise money,” said Vartanian brighter days —hopefully – encouraged to take photos or

When a bid to purchase about fundraising plans earlier emerge perhaps in early 2021. videos at historic landmarks for the landmark Massey Estate this year to help pay off the Donations are down 95 percent posting on social media. finally was approved in $3.5 million mortgage. “And from what they would be in a Instead of the usual $25,000 January, for about $3.5 million, all of it got cancelled. August 8 Northville Living and Learning would have been our gala on the Enrichment Center president property. and founder Rachelle Vartanian “All non-profits are scared began mapping out some right now.” impressive plans for the rest of Things are at a standstill for 2020 – all to help provide new the Northville Lions, too, with opportunities for teenagers and club members not permitted to adults with autism and other stand on public sidewalks and special needs to grow both streets collecting for the sale personally and vocationally. of white canes, their annual

Vartanian was ready to get fundraiser. going on a cluster of micro- “We contacted the city,” said businesses to be based on the Debra Beard, president of the sprawling property located at local Lions club. “When they 801 Griswold Street near the opened the sidewalks in the border of Northville and Novi. city in downtown Northville, so Among those were a chicken coop, doggie day care center and people could dine outside, we had hoped the city would allow Volunteers have been instrumental in helping the Living and Learning Center’s efforts at the former Massey Estate.

in profit from sponsorships and rider fees, this year’s scaled down event –spanning two months, ending Oct. 31 and rebranded as the ‘TDV Covid Cruise’ – will be fortunate to bring in half that, said Rotary president Guy Bardsley.

“We’ve had people post photos or video onto the Facebook page,” Bardsley said. “My wife and I went out this week, we did our ‘Covid Cruise’ and we stopped at a number of sites in Northville and took photos.

“Despite what’s happening, as a club I think we’ve adapted to this new normal as best as we could. I mean, it definitely isn’t ideal. But we’ve continued to hold the club together.”

The Rotarians do have a reliable backup plan to see them through, though.

“We have a foundation, a 501(c)3 component of our club,” Bardsley explained. “We have a reasonably large amount of money that sits in there. We’re able to draw money off that.

“Basically, we draw off the interest from that each year, to allocate to everything from service projects we support to scholarships. For the last number of years we gave three $1,000 scholarships to Northville High School collegebound students,” Bardsley said. “We support everything from (Northville) Civic Concern to Living and Learning.”

meet And greet

With in-person gatherings either banned or restricted throughout much of the pandemic, non-profit clubs have had to help members get up to speed on Zoom technology in order to tackle monthly agendas. Recent outdoor gatherings – with mask

Northville Lions Club members Debra Beard and Clay Galarneau put up posters inside Meads Mill Middle School, as part of the club’s Peace Poster Contest for sixth graders.

wearing and social distancing rules applied – were a welcome respite. But as October turns into November, groups will need to return indoors or perhaps opt to go back to Zoom.

“Our typical meeting location is the Northville Sports Den,” Beard said. “We may go back to that. Not everyone in our group wants to be there. Some have pre-existing conditions and don’t want to put the risk out there.”

Rotary Club’s Bardsley noted that Sept. 22 was the club’s first in-person meeting, on the grounds at the Living and Learning Center, since March.

“We had about 18 people show up. It was good to see everybody again,” Bardsley said. “It may be the last time we’ll be able to do it.

“We’re just like everybody else, fingers crossed that (a COVID-19 cure) comes,” Bardsley noted. “I think being realistic we’re definitely looking into next year. We’ll just continue to operate and do the best we can, really. We’re still able to serve.”

The club has been able to keep plugging along with various projects, despite the pandemic. In August, they volunteered at Crossroads in Detroit, a food service organization that feeds up to 800 people.

Rotary also helps provide food for those who need it closer to home, with member Marita Smith collecting nonperishables and household goods and finding a unique delivery system, repurposing their “Little Free Library” near the Chamber office as a “Little Free Pantry.”

“She (Smith) stocks that at least three times a week,” Bardsley said. “Not just food, she’ll put in plastic bags filled with toothpaste and a toothbrush, or shampoo and a conditioner. We hope everyone who takes is needy. That’s been a nice little project we’ve done.”

the big Picture

Vartanian still has high hopes and big plans for the Living and Learning Center (for now, programming continues to take place out of the current facility at 315 Griswold, on the grounds of Mill Race Village), and won’t let a global health crisis get in the way.

“We’re moving forward with everything, it’s just that money is very tight,” she explained.

Planned improvements to the new center include building handicapped ramps and making facilities ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant. One of her bigger goals is to convert the Massey carriage house into an oasis for her clientele.

“Before we got the property – we tried to get this for two years – I promised a parent, her son went to Cooke School, for your most severe,” Vartanian said. “I don’t have the space at our other place to offer programs for them. So I promised her that if we got this building that the carriage house I’d use solely for the people that need the most support. I just want that up and running for those parents, so they have a place to bring their kids, too.”

In the meantime, to bring in important revenue, Vartanian has begun renting out the 100-year-old home and grounds for special events – and for photo shoots such as for weddings.

“We have two fire pits out here, we want the community out here,” she said. “We open the gates at 9 a.m., close them about 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday. Just pull your car in, wear your mask and just walk around the property. It’s so beautiful.” NORTHVILLE NON-PROFITS

Many Northville non-profit organizations are struggling to raise money because of COVID-19. Here are a few that could use your help.

Northville Rotary,

www.northvillerotary.org

Northville lions Club,

www.northvillelionsclub.org VFW Post 4012, vfw.vfw4012.us American legion Post 147, centennial.legion.org/michigan/ post147

living & learning Center,

www.livingandlearningcenter.org

Northville Civic Concern,

northvillevolunteer.wixsite.com/ civicconcern