The Sky is Falling!
by Laura Walling, Senior Director of Government Relations, Goodwill Industries International
As I write another plea, asking again for you to take action and tell Congress to provide additional COVID-19 #Relief4Charities, I am reminded of the story of Chicken Little. I feel like the main character who runs around yelling with a sense of urgency that the sky is falling. He does this so often, that no one believes him. This current request for action is not akin to the fable. Unless Congress acts, many supports included in the CARES Act, which have helped nonprofits and the communities and families we serve, will expire in a few short weeks.
We are grateful for the thousands of letters, phone calls and tweets to lawmakers that have been sent throughout the pandemic. Your advocacy has helped Goodwill and the broader charitable sector secure a number of small victories along the way. However, more needs to be done so that nonprofits can continue serving communities as we have throughout this crisis, and Congress is negotiating a final package now. With COVID-19 cases rising around the country, the pandemic is not going to end at the end of the year and neither should the support from Congress.
Your voice continues to play a critical role in our success. Take action today.
Charitable nonprofits are frontline responders providing food, shelter, medical care and other critical services to those in need. With unemployment rates on the rise, the job training and workforce development supports provided by Goodwill organizations are vital to helping job seekers and those who are looking to expand their skills. However, nonprofits also need resources to continue to serve those who rely on us.
More than 4,000 nonprofits signed a letter to congressional leadership highlighting several urgent priorities. Please show your support of nonprofits by calling on leadership to include these priorities in the coronavirus response bill being negotiated right now.
These provisions will be a lifeline to nonprofits struggling to keep their doors open, provide essential services to our communities, and preserve as many jobs as we possibly can. Thank you for your ongoing support. With your help, our story will have a happy ending.
