Amid the grey skies of the pandemic, there have been moments of pure radiance for each of Teton Valley’s nonprofits. Staff and board efforts to accommodate necessary changes to programming have teased innumerable silver linings out of the original problems Covid posed. Organizations’ ability to respond and initiate work-arounds during this tenuous time has been a bright spot in the otherwise grey of the unknown. At the Community Foundation, we want to recognize 14 ways in which all local nonprofits have shown brightly throughout the pandemic – illustrated with a handful, of the many, examples available:
- Ability to Pivot – Community Resource Center of Teton Valley translated their 2020 Competitive Grant into a Spanish-speaking employee and moved their in-take form online.
- Adaptability – Teton Arts moved their classes online, and to the Driggs and Victor City Parks this summer.
- Awareness – Teton Valley Mental Health Coalition offers 6 free counseling sessions to those affected by either the pandemic or recent loss of community leader, Joselin Matkins.
- Flexibility – Above & Beyond the Classroom in Teton Valley has accommodated safety protocols and covid scheduling to ensure services are maintained for their constituents.
- Inclusivity – Teton Valley Ski Education Foundation offered financial scholarships to those who could not afford their services this year due to significant challenges brought about by Covid.
- Ingenuity – Teton Valley Trails & Pathways current Trail Challenge is raising awareness, donations, and user mileage.
- Perseverance – Subs for Santa organized to help many families enjoy genuine smiles and warmth over the holidays.
- Persistence – Teton Valley Foundation has addressed scheduling, visitors, closures, team quarantines, and more to maintain skating at the Kotler Ice Arena.
- Reliability – Family Safety Network has done a phenomenal job maintaining their open door policy to help in time of crisis or otherwise.
- Safety – Teton Rock Gym used a Competitive Grant to create a physical division between their training area and climbing walls to help keep cohorts separate and provide safety for both sets of programming.
- Systems – Teton Valley Food Pantry used their 2020 Competitive Grant for a software upgrade that helps monitor their distribution and keep track of their weekly needs.
- Volunteers – Seniors West of the Tetons has continually been able to deliver regular meals to seniors across the valley for months with awesome volunteer power.
- Working Remotely – Teton Regional Land Trust orchestrates a large team to ensure the coordination and consistency required to maintain communication and project goals from afar.
- Zoom – Community Foundation of Teton Valley’s Nonprofit Check-in’s with Tim Adams have allowed leaders to share resources, successes, ideas, and lean on each other during these difficult times.
