A New Perspective: Sam Cook

I am a sophomore at Highland School of Technology, and this is my second year being involved with the Gaston Community Foundation through Teens Changing Gaston County. Since May of 2020, I have had the opportunity to observe the weekly meetings of the Gaston County Virus Relief Fund. My experience observing these meetings has given me new insight into the effect that the pandemic has had on local businesses and nonprofit organizations.

During these meetings I was able to observe the members of the Virus Relief Fund committee discuss applications from a great variety of Gaston County non-profit organizations. I saw just how reliant many nonprofits are on constant fundraising and donations, and how big of an impact the economic crisis is having on them. As a student, I don’t often think about how much money businesses and nonprofits need for their daily operation. Especially in the early months of the pandemic, many of the organizations requested money just to keep the lights on. If these organizations had to shut their doors, they would be leaving a great void for all of the people in our community that rely on them.

Rather than simply offering a temporary supplement to a budget, a grant can be used to help an organization adapt to the new environment brought about by the pandemic. Because of this, grants can have a large impact on businesses and nonprofits that could help them thrive even past the economic crisis. Observing these meetings has also given me a greater appreciation of just how much good is being done by many small businesses and nonprofits in Gaston County, and that their work is only possible because of the incredible generosity of the local community.