Like most small businesses, inflation and the economy have affected Augusta Gift Baskets, but that hasn’t prevented its owners from supporting local nonprofits, according to Julie Williams.
Williams and her husband, Randall, own and operate the custom gift basket business. She said they try to give away eight baskets each month to local charities, such as SafeHomes Domestic Violence Center.
“We have had to go up on our prices, but that hasn’t stopped us from giving,” Williams said.
She, along with more than 100 local female business leaders, attended this month’s Women in Business Program hosted by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.
The title of this month’s program was “Faces of Nonprofits and What They Face,” which featured three panelists: Child Enrichment Inc. Executive Director Kari Viola-Brooke; United Way of the CSRA President and CEO Brittany Burnett; and American Red Cross of Augusta Executive Director Susan Everitt.
Child Enrichment, which has offices in Augusta and Thomson, provides various services for child abuse victims in nine counties throughout the CSRA. The organization offers these services through two main programs: The Child Advocacy Center and Court Appointed Special Advocates.
CAC works with law enforcement agencies, the district attorney’s office and Department of Family and Children’s Services to handle child abuse allegations. CASA pairs children with volunteers who advocate for their needs and go to court on their behalf.
Viola-Brooke said she and her staff have noticed a major increase in demand for their services.
“We have done 30-40 forensic interviews a month,” she said. “In March, we did 82; we’re not prepared for that.”
Covid presented unique challenges for the nonprofit because these interviews, which allow child abuse victims to explain what happened to them, can’t be conducted virtually. They’re always looking for volunteers, particularly for the CASA program.
“We’ll provide you with all the training you need,” Viola-Brooke said. “I believe it’s every adult’s duty to protect children.”
To handle a larger caseload, the nonprofit is running a capital campaign to raise funds for a new building. She said they’ve developed a partnership with Georgia Power.
“We can’t change what happens to children before they walk through Child Enrichment’s doors, but we can change what happens after,” Viola-Brooke said.
United Way of the CSRA serves 12 counties throughout Georgia and South Carolina. The nonprofit provides various services for underprivileged residents in the CSRA, including rent and utility assistance.
“We’ve prevented people at risk of being evicted keep a roof over their heads,” Burnett said.
One of its programs is the 2-1-1 helpline, which helps those in need get connected to community resources, such as food, clothing, school supplies and shelter.
She said one of the major ways its corporate partners, including Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, help United Way is by lending their employees to the nonprofit to serve as volunteers. The organization relies on its volunteer board. Burnett said they try to ensure diversity on that board in terms of age, sex and other factors.
“We’ve allowed our employees to work a flexible schedule,” she said.
That allows them to serve those in the need at home and in the office.
The American Red Cross was founded 140 years ago by Clara Barton. The nonprofit provides a variety of services, including disaster relief, military assistance and lifesaving skills classes, such as first aid.
Everitt shared an example of a service member who was deployed to Afghanistan and found out his mother was terminally ill. The Red Cross was able to fly him home to be with his mother until she passed. When he returned to Afghanistan, the soldier was injured by an IED. The organization was able to fly his father to Afghanistan to be with him.
Like United Way, the Red Cross relies on its 32-member board to help serve its mission. She said beyond providing financial support, there are two ways businesses can help: volunteering and hosting blood drives.
“As nonprofits, it’s perceived as we’re always asking,” Everitt said. “That’s why we offer a menu of services to businesses.”
These services include providing training and certification opportunities for employees in CPR and water safety, among others.
“We want to give back, so it’s more of a two-way street,” she said.
For more information about these organizations, visit their websites at childenrichment.org, uwcsra.org/ and redcross.org/local/georgia/about-us/locations/east-central-georgia.html.
