Bob Simmons, chair of the UCC Foundation, presents a $20,000 check to Kristy Milligan, executive director of Westside CARES on Monday, Nov. 22. Seated, from left: MJ Coon, Rev. Susie Merrin, Rev. Susie Merrin of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Michael Blake and Rachael Campbell of the Westside CARES board of directors. Standing, from left: board members Cliff Potter and Donna Randolph, Simmons, Milligan and board member Anil Dewan.
In February of this year, Broadmoor Community Church-United Church of Christ issued a $10,000 challenge to Westside CARES’ 23 member faith communities and the broader community to step into the gaps created by COVID-19, and the community responded.
“In the aftermath of the pandemic, Westside CARES experienced an astronomical increase in need for services among our community’s most vulnerable members. Leaders at Broadmoor Community Church-UCC decided to issue a $10,000 challenge to match all new and increased funding to Westside CARES to help the agency expand its most critical programs to accommodate rising need,” said Rev. Anne Cubbage, lead pastor.
Since the onset of the pandemic, Westside CARES never missed a single day of service, and has increased its most needed programs, food pantry and rental/mortgage assistance, by 250 percent and 500 percent, respectively.
“The Broadmoor Community Church has been absolutely thrilled with the success of this matching program,” Bob Simmons, chair of the UCC Foundation, said as he presented the check.
Broadmoor Community Church-UCC’s match has been a crucial incentive for member faith communities and individuals alike, according to Kristy Milligan, CEO of Westside CARES.
The nonprofit had experienced an unprecedented number of requests for rental assistance and pantry operations were stretched to capacity in October.
“Our member faith communities have stepped up this year and individuals within the faith communities have stepped up. This is just one of the ways that we all come together to spark the philanthropic spirit and to give what we can,” Milligan said Monday, Nov. 22, as she accepted a check for $20,000.
Opportunity Insights maintains a tracker of the COVID-19 recovery, which indicates that those who were economically challenged before the pandemic are still nowhere near complete recovery.
That’s why, Milligan said, the timing of the BCC Challenge couldn’t be more perfect.
“The BCC Challenge has been instrumental in inspiring increased and new gifts to Westside CARES, and we are humbled by the community outpouring of support for those who still need help to recover.”
Information: westsidecares.org