Please pass the pi(e)

||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION |||

The problem with pie is sometimes there aren’t enough slices to go around. If friends and family are around, chances are someone brought another pie to the table. Can this be a metaphor for life – and community – sometimes it feels like there’s not enough to go around, and then someone shows up to make more pie. 

Island nonprofits that work every day to provide basic needs of community members and support programs to enrich all of our lives are deeply concerned about their share of the pie. Last week, I launched a survey to island nonprofits, to collect data about how recent changes, funding freezes, and executive actions at the federal level have impacted their work. Responses gathered so far confirm this is a tumultuous time for many in the nonprofit sector. Here are just a few stories we’ve gathered so far:

“The recent executive actions pose significant risks to both our organization’s ability to operate effectively and the well-being of the community members we serve. If funding is lost, we face the elimination or severe reduction of critical programs.”

“OPAL staff are weekly fielding calls from renters and homeowners who are scared that they will lose their home because the mortgage on that home is carried by a federal agency, USDA; or that they will lose their income from Social Security or SSI, which is sometimes their only source of income, and thereby not be able to pay their rent or buy food.”

“With the reductions in funding we already know are coming, we will need to operate with fewer employees”

“The federal government has been a key partner to the success of ecological restoration and conservation efforts in the San Juan Islands…Federal funding freezes and cuts put all of these programs, and the success they have built over the past 10-20 years, at great risk of coming undone.”

Unfortunately, it seems this is just the beginning. Even nonprofits that are not directly impacted by changes at the federal or state level will feel ripple effects, because we are all connected, a part of the same pie.

A critical role of the Foundation is to support the nonprofit sector that serves our community. We are working to develop strategies to address these challenges, together. Those of us who can, should think about how we can bring more to the table. Please connect with me if you’d like to learn about ways to contribute your energy and resources to these efforts.

We received a record number of Spring GiveOrcas grant proposals, demonstrating the ingenuity of community members coming together to identify needs and projects to support all facets of island life. The spring campaign will run from May 6 – 15 and will be a great way to support the needs of our community.

To help us fill the gaps, OICF is hiring a full-time Development and Communications Manager and a part-time Administrative Assistant. If you’re interested or know someone who might be, please check out our website for more details. 

Staying informed, getting involved, and simply connecting with friends and neighbors is more important than ever.

Here are a few upcoming opportunities:

• Rep. Debra Lekanoff will be on Orcas Island on Saturday, March 15 from 5 – 6 pm at the Eastsound Fire Hall to discuss the 2025 legislative session, including her support of the Pea Patch Community Campus funding request, and answer questions.

• After the meeting, why not head to Odd Fellows for contra dancing! Open to all, 7 – 9 pm.

• There are several ongoing opportunities to participate in the Comprehensive Plan Update. View the Guide to Getting Involved in the Comp Plan Update (en Espanol) to learn more

• Starting on March 23, The Threshold Collective is hosting a series of films focused on death, encouraging us to explore death in new and meaningful ways. Information on Conservation/Green Burial, Death Cafe, Home Funeral, and more will be shared with refreshments before the films.

• A series of community meetings will be held about the upcoming Orcas Island Health Care District Levy Lift. Mark your calendar for two Informational Town Halls, Friday March 28 at 1:00 – 2:30 PM and Wednesday April 9 at 5:30 – 7:00 PM, both at the Orcas Fire Hall.

Wishing you an abundance of (pizza) pie today.