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Hi folks,
Apologies in advance if this note is a bit more personal and longer than usual, but I promise there are some adorable patient updates waiting for you at the end of this email if you make it there! Right now, as the world faces COVID-19, we all feel its impacts on a global scale. There's no shortage of anxiety floating around; I feel it too. But, if I can't be honest and vulnerable with you right now, then when can I?
I have to admit it was strange waking up this morning. Obviously, there's that general sense of uneasiness we're almost growing accustomed to by now. But particularly strange for me today was the reminder that, during normal circumstances, I would have been jumping out of bed to prepare for Art is Wild (originally scheduled for this evening). After the last few weeks, most of us are probably numb to event cancellations, and after all, there are bigger problems in the world than our social calendars. Still, I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling a twinge of sadness for the things I hoped I'd be able to do.
Art is Wild has been one of my favorite days of the year for some time now, for a few reasons:
- In one evening, it raises a significant amount of funds for my favorite organization (you guessed it - Chintimini Wildlife Center!).
- I get to share the evening with people who care about the work we do in wildlife rehabilitation and education as much as I do, including our fantastic sponsors: Capital Mortgage Source, Witt Consulting, Corvallis Radiology, p51Labs, Wild Birds Unlimited, and Xtreme Grafx,
- I am treated to some of my favorite food and drinks from our friends at 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Block 15 Brewing, Spiritopia, and Valley Catering in the gorgeous Philomath Scout Lodge.
- Most of all, I am inspired by the wonderful reminder of what can happen when a group of people works together to support a cause they believe in.
These are all great reasons to gather, of course - but it's the last one that I'm really craving lately. To balance out the fear and uncertainty we're dealing with, we all need more frequent reminders of the resiliency of the human spirit. The place I look to most frequently when I need living proof of that, you ask? Our staff.
Our team, in spite of the current state of the world, is doing a truly amazing job. It's a challenge to find just one person with the right balance of kindness, toughness, and skill to care for wild animals. To fill an entire team with folks who embody those traits on a daily basis is nothing short of a miracle. They are leaders, teachers, nurturers, and problem solvers. They support each other, challenge each other, and console each other. They are, quite literally, lifesavers. They care for each other and for every animal who comes through our gates. I am proud to know these people, and I feel comforted in seeing that even when they are up against nearly impossible odds, they will roll up their sleeves and get right to work. If you've been following us for a while, you probably already know that they are preparing to care for hundreds of animals this spring (and a couple thousand by the time the year is done). This year, however, they're marching toward that enormous task with very limited support.
Now, they say that the best way to lose your audience is by introducing statistics - but, if you're still with me now, I have faith that you can bear just a few more about the people that keep our center running:
- In January, about 130 volunteers spent nearly 900 combined hours supporting our staff.
- In February, that number increased slightly to a little over 1,100 hours.
- In the past 4 weeks since we suspended most volunteer shifts, we've been able to safely accommodate only about 150 volunteer hours.
We miss our volunteers terribly, and we hear they miss us too! But by staying home, they are protecting the health of our limited staff - for that, we can't thank them enough. But, who's doing this work that we can no longer safely assign to volunteers? Our staff of about 4 people.
To break a second rule (because, why not?!): they say that when you're fundraising, be careful when mentioning your paid staff. To some folks, it feels a bit "icky" to imagine that your dollars are going toward someone's salary. I get it. But I have to be honest with you again - our incredible team of staff, volunteers, and interns is Chintimini Wildlife Center's most precious resource. The miracles in animal care that happen here are absolutely human-powered. Now, more than ever, these humans need support.
The way through this pandemic, as with most hard things, will be together. Though that "together" might look a bit different in an age of social distancing, the feeling remains the same. Like many of you, I know people who've lost their job, or even their business, due to this pandemic. Much worse - many others have lost their lives. I would be lying if I said I didn't feel personally responsible for the safety of each and every one of my team members and their families. I care about them as people, and I also know that the wildlife I care about stand a better chance at survival when they have these dedicated animal care professionals at their service. These are incredibly difficult circumstances and it's heartwrenching to feel so fiercely protective over this team with no guarantee that I keep them safe. So I turn to our community for help.
Once again, I want to personally thank you for being part of our community. We are so lucky to have received support thus far, and each outstretched hand is a humbling and touching experience. Even so, our commitment to the animals we serve, and my personal commitment to supporting the team who dedicates their lives to carrying out that mission, compels me to extend an invitation once more:
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