It might come as no surprise that fundraising events are being cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the effect on organizations and the people they serve can be crippling.
The latest local fundraiser to be called off is the annual golf tournament in support of the Green Haven Shelter for Women. It typically brings in $20,000 to $25,000 for the organization, representing about 20 per cent of its operating budget.
“Unfortunately, as with virtually all events of that nature, it’s been cancelled,” Liz Westcott, Green Haven’s executive director, said of the tournament that was scheduled to take place July 6 at Bonaire Golf Course in Coldwater.
Green Haven will still do its direct mail campaign, which usually generates a significant amount of money, but the chances of its third annual gala going ahead in the fall are not good.
“To not have that income is devastating,” Westcott said “We’re watching and waiting. If we do have a second wave of outbreaks in the fall, I think we’ll see a move toward shutting things down again.”
It was a case of bad timing for Green Haven. The new shelter on Sundial Drive opened early in the year, replacing the previous one that was operated out of an old house on West Street.
“We virtually committed all our reserves to the building, and then COVID hit,” Westcott said. “Most years, I would be fairly confident, but we’ve never had this experience before. It’s been tough and I am really anxious about what will happen.”
The former shelter property is for sale, but the pandemic has led to a drop in home buying, so it’s unknown when the organization will find a buyer and get that revenue.
The shelter is operating at 50 per cent capacity due to public health restrictions; that means a maximum of six women can be there at the same time.
When the state of emergency was declared in Ontario, it became “eerily quiet” at the shelter, Westcott said, because many women were staying at home.
“Crisis lines dropped off substantially. Their abusers are sitting right there. It’s not safe to call,” she said.
With the gradual reopening of businesses, Green Haven is starting to see more calls come in, and Westcott expects that trend to continue.
While only six women can stay at the shelter right now, Green Haven is still offering its outreach programs and has been holding Zoom conferences online.
“We’re always here to help them,” Westcott said, encouraging anyone in need to contact the shelter at 705-327-7319.
Anyone wanting to donate to Green Haven can do so on its website or contact the shelter to make other arrangements.
