Community supports organizations helping others

Fundraising efforts are a year-round task for most organizations, but during the holidays those efforts are increased.

People in Wrangell are willing to give their time, energy and money to support everything from the food pantry and pets to high school athletes.

A pressing need

"This community, hand over fist, is one of the most generous communities I've ever had the privilege to work in," said Lt. Jon Tollerud, of The Salvation Army.

The Christian-based organization coordinates the community food pantry program, helps with emergency housing needs, and provides other services such as domestic violence prevention. Last year, Tollerud said they raised $15,000 through the Red Kettle drive (the bell ringers outside of City Market and Wrangell IGA). The goal this year is to raise $20,000. Gift-in-kind donations last year totaled about $12,000.

"This year, we're looking at about $22,000 so far. We're not done. It's a significant jump," Tollerud said last week. Starting the fiscal year on Oct. 1, he said they've seen a 125% increase over 2020's fundraising efforts.

The Salvation Army doesn't do it alone. It receives generous monthly food donations from the two grocery stores, and the middle school holds a holiday canned food drive. This year, Evergreen Elementary joined the effort. The middle school received more than 400 donations and the elementary school brought in four large boxes filled with multiple dry goods.

Tollerud said building trust within the community is a focus for the organization. "We hand out food, we are there when disaster strikes. We don't go away just because Christmas is over or because a disaster is over. We stay and make sure a community is healed."

What they do does not go unnoticed.

"I have a hard time interacting with people and communicating, so I came down here and I found out they had food," said Gabe Montoy, who attends church at The Salvation Army and uses the food pantry. It has become a good outlet for him, helping him to be more social.

Volunteer bellringer Robyn Booker feels that it's important to give back, however possible.

"It's important to give back. If everybody gets in the habit of not giving back, then our community falls apart," she said. "We have a scripture that says when we're being in service to our fellow human beings, we're being in service to God. Not only are you serving others and making life a little more easy - because it's not easy - you're also showing your heavenly father how much you love him."

Delivering Christmas cheer

Throughout the year, the American Legion Auxiliary raises funds for different programs, like scholarship programs for high school seniors and prizes for the fishing derby. During the holidays, the organization hosts a Christmas party and gift-giving event for children 12 and under.

Marilyn Mork, the auxiliary president, said the COVID-19 pandemic made raising money more difficult since in-person sales like its Taco Tuesdays, Christmas décor and Mooselaneous thrift events rely heavily on foot traffic and not as many people were coming out.

"Another thing we do is send a letter out to businesses and organizations and ask them for money," Mork said. "We usually get a few hundred dollars. This year, we actually had a private donation of $1,000. That's the first time ever."

The budget for the Christmas party, which the auxiliary holds on a Saturday in mid-December, is typically $7,000. Since the party was canceled but the gift-giving portion was still held last Saturday, Mork said the budget for gifts was raised from $15 to $20 per child. It was enough to provide gifts for the 205 children who signed up in advance and for any that came by the day of the event.

"It means a lot for the families that can't afford a lot. It's a valuable resource," said Sarah Cowen, whose children Vanessa, 11, and Hunter, 8, were among the first attendees.

The funds saved from not having the party, Mork said, will go toward next year's events.

The auxiliary's efforts also extend to seniors in Wrangell. As part of their efforts, Mork said they had a gift drive where people could visit any of the three banks, take a round tag from the tree, buy the gift listed on the tag, and the auxiliary wrapped it and delivered it. "There's a lot of seniors in this town who don't have family or are shut-ins," Mork said.

The gift of information

Like the auxiliary, radio station KSTK saw its efforts to raise operating funds hindered by the pandemic.

Station Manager Cindy Sweat said the nonprofit usually holds a Halloween party every year to help bring in donations, in addition to their spring and fall membership drives.

"The last two years have been difficult for everybody," Sweat said. "We typically have several indoor events that we just haven't been able to do, so that's been challenging."

This year, the station is holding a year-end donation drive as well. Donations are tax deductible and can be used on taxes if made by Dec. 31. Along with its regular membership drives, KSTK is holding a raffle for two tickets on Alaska Airlines, which Sweat is hoping will bring in $9,000.

Even with the lack of indoor events to help raise funds, Sweat said efforts to raise money have been positive.

"Both our spring drive and our fall drive this year were very successful," she said. "We met our goal thanks to so many people in the community. This end-of-the-year drive is a little slower than last year, but I think that's because people already donated. But overall, people have been very generous."

Finding a home

St. Frances Animal Rescue has been continuously raising money to not only continue operating, but to build or find a new location.

This year, the organization that shelters pets and finds them forever homes, ramped up its fundraising during the holidays with a bake sale at the community market last Saturday and a secret silent auction at First Bank.

As of last weekend, Joan Sargent, the foster/adoption coordinator for St. Frances, said $3,000 was raised. That money will be matched by a private donor. It's the giving nature of the community that allows the nonprofit to continue feeding and housing pets.

"It's definitely open wallets and open hearts," Sargent said. When they hold a bake sale, people don't necessarily want a sweet treat, so they will donate the value of one of the baked goods. But people will walk away with more than just a good feeling. "If we have a mini bake sale, it gives us an opportunity to reach out with education and membership and what we do. It's amazing how many people don't know we exist."

Right now, Sargent estimates it will take about $50,000 just to build a new location for the animal shelter. That doesn't include purchasing property, ground improvements or the ability to continue operating on a monthly basis.

"It's hand-to-mouth. Most of these places (animal shelters) operate that way and they do depend on the community to be a real strong supporter," Sargent said. "It has to be a community effort."

Students helping students

In order to compete, high school athletes need to be able to travel. Unlike Railbelt communities on the road system, Southeast athletes have no choice but sporadic state ferries or costly air travel. And, of course, that takes money that schools don't necessarily have budgeted.

"The funds are going to help us to travel. We're going to be traveling to the ... basketball tournament in Anchorage," said Christina Good, head coach of the girls' basketball team. "Typically, we do fundraisers throughout the season, but right now with COVID, we had to move everything out of the school."

To that end, the Elks Lodge offered its services. Proceeds from last Friday's hamburgers sold at the lodge went toward the team's fundraising efforts. "They're so gracious and we're blessed to always be able to use them. They're always so supportive of our kids."

Team members helped to take orders from Elks members, served the meals, and sold raffle tickets.

Good said there wasn't a specific goal for money to be raised. Anything they have donated gets deposited into a fund that all the teams can pull from when needed.

"Every single sport pulls out of the same pool, so they try to help out as much they can," she said. "We don't really set a goal because we want to share with all the other sports teams as well."

Good said when there's a need, the community steps up to help.

Senior Kendra Meissner has been fundraising for basketball and volleyball since her freshman year.

"We did a fundraiser for volleyball once and made $2,000," she said. "I really do enjoy doing it, at least once a year, to get out and represent (the teams) and get support from the town."