Separated Together

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Treasure Coast Food Bank has been distributing emergency food at Drive-Thru Mobile Pantries. A $25,000 grant from United Way is helping the Food Bank meet the increased demand.

Photo by Jacque Kenney

Winston Churchill is said to have noted, “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.” These days, when so many people’s ability to make a living has been constrained by COVID-19, those of us fortunate enough to have the resources to give have a special opportunity to “make a life.”

Vero Beach has long been one of the most generous communities in the country. Our annual household giving is nearly double that of the rest of the nation, and that holds true across all income levels.

It’s also true that in Indian River County, more than half our households don’t have sufficient savings to withstand a sudden loss in wages. Indian River Community Foundation and the United Way surveyed local nonprofit organizations and found that at least 30 of them were expecting the pandemic to create increased demand for their services. At the same time, many of these organizations were unable to host their annual fundraising events this year. In other words, they are being challenged to do even more with fewer resources.

Jeffrey Pickering, president and CEO of Indian River Community Foundation, offers three suggestions for how you can help. First, make your 2020 charitable contributions today. Now is a great time to make donations that you normally make later in the year. Pickering suggests that you review your 2019 giving and try to increase the amount if you can, especially if you give money to organizations that serve vulnerable individuals and families. If you’ve got a little extra time on your hands, now is also a good time to research local

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