What this Moment Requires is Guts

Published 1:53 pm Monday, April 6, 2020

Amid the most unusual and unexpected event of our lifetime, I find myself struggling for words. No story seems appropriate, no example relevant.

I’m bombarded by hard, rough around the edge news, like the text I received with a story from the local television station explaining that crisis calls to family violence shelters are up.

I’m not surprised. I am deeply concerned at a level I can hardly describe. I know a lot about family violence and child abuse after many years at the East Texas Crisis Center.

As stress grows for everyone, it will increase even more for those stuck in their homes under shelter in place and stay at home orders. For many battered women going to work is one of the few safe places in their lives. Children are stuck at home — no longer able to attend school, another safe place for abused children. Teachers can’t report what they cannot see or hear.

As a country, we had already become more concerned about mental health issues and growing suicide rates, evidenced by an increasing number of articles and media reports. And then a pandemic occurs.

The virus will affect the mental health of many Americans. For many it will be the first time they’ve experienced more than an occasional “bad day” kind of depression. For those who have long had mental health challenges, it is now, and will continue to be excruciating for some time to come. On a recent phone call, I heard an estimate that Texas will experience as many as 1,000 more suicides than normal as a direct impact from COVID-19.

Given the economic impact, suicide rates will be unimaginable. Family violence and child abuse stories will be horrifying.

The questions many of us are asking right now is “Where do I start,” followed by “How do I respond?”

There was some very good news recently that will help us get started. The CARES Act did finally pass on Friday, March 27. Amid the 880- page bill, on page 171 — new provisions were made for charitable donations.

For 2020 cash gifts to most public charities may qualify under a new 100% of adjusted gross income (AGI) limit increasing the amount you can deduct as a write off. This good news is not quite as simple as it sounds with the expected if this, then that caveats that change for each taxpayer under IRS regulations.

But, at least for some of us, the opportunity to give and make a difference in today’s trying times may have become more attractive. It is worth investigating. Check with your CPA or an accountant who can help you navigate exactly how the change in the charitable donation’s rules apply to you.

All around us — family, neighbors, and friends across town have overnight become one of those in need. Community nonprofit organizations provide a critical safety net for families, many who have never needed help in the past.

Through our gifts of time, donations, and wisdom, Americans have built just about the best nonprofit safety net in the world. To keep it strong, we have to keep giving, even if we have less to give.

What do I do next? Give now to organizations on the front line, here in our community, down the road from our homes, or just across town. Pay attention to newsletters and on-line requests. Watch for articles in the newspaper. There will be no shortage of ways to help.

I’ve heard it repeatedly said, “We will come out of this.”

There will be much work to do in the coming months — many to check on, reach out and care for. We will be called on to give again and again.

How we give well in this time bears repeating. We’re Americans. We have built just about the best nonprofit safety net in the world. To keep it strong, we have to keep giving, even if we have less to give. That’s what we do.

Dawn Franks, the author of the e-book Giving Fingerprints, is CEO of Your Philanthropy. She writes a blog, the YP Journal, at www.your-philanthropy.com. Comments and questions are welcome. Send to info@your-philanthropy.com.