EVERETT, Wash. — The coronavirus crisis hit at a terrible time for western Washington charities. March begins the annual fundraising season with auctions and galas raising much-needed money for nonprofits all across the region.
Governor Jay Inslee's ban on gatherings of 250 people or more is forcing many to cancel those events.
At least 20 such functions have either been canceled or postponed at Everett's Angel of The Winds Arena, Snohomish County's largest event space.
Among them was Cocoon House's 24th annual Butterfly Graduation. Cocoon House supports some 2,500 homeless and at-risk youth in the community.
Johnathan Robinson ran away from home as a child, got addicted to drugs and ended up living under a bridge. But Cocoon House got him off the streets and into treatment.
Now 19, he's sober and working two jobs.
"Just anything I need I can come talk to them about," he said. "They're my family and my home away from home."
Robinson was planning to attend the Butterfly Graduation this month where he would've shared his success story with about 450 donors.
The ban on large gatherings forced its cancellation, with no plans to reschedule because no one knows how long the coronavirus crisis will last.
"It was not a decision made lightly," said CEO Joe Alonzo,
The Butterfly Graduation would've raised $100,000 for some 2,500 at-risk youth in the community.
Alonzo said this is just the beginning.
"We're also going to see an impact from the broader community not giving as much out of fear or resource scarcity."
All this is happening as Cocoon House and other charities are now forced into unexpected expenditures for additional food and sanitary supplies. They're bracing for a potential explosion in need due to school closures and job losses.
"There's a whole community that's reeling right now," said Alonzo. "Our goal is to be here. We're pretty nimble and creative. We'll learn some things and encounter some new situations we've never encountered but that's what we do."
Alonzo said cutting staff or services is simply not an option for Cocoon House because of the critical services they provide.
Serving the community during this unprecedented time, however, will be a challenge.
"We're trying to figure it out as we go," he said.
In related news, Premera Blue Cross, BECU, the Community Foundation of Snohomish County and United Way of Snohomish County have donated $250,000 to launch the Coronavirus Response Fund.
Details are still being finalized, but it is expected the money will be used to support food programs for children and seniors, housing, public health needs and programs that help families impacted by the school closings.
To make a donation to the Coronavirus Response Fund, visit the Community Foundation of Snohomish County website at www.cf-sc.org. One hundred percent of all donations will go directly to identified programs and services.