Our role
What is a land trust's role during hard times? Our open spaces provide relief, solace and strength to the people in our community, and our work to address the larger, looming issue of climate change is as critical as ever.
But right now, people need help.
As a community-based organization, I feel compelled to listen to the needs of the people around me. I hear that they need work; they need food; they need hope.
This support starts at home. Our land trust employs eight people year-round and a few more in the summer. Across the last 4 weeks, half my staff have become the sole breadwinners in their households.
Our conservation work has not slowed, but we've made the decision to focus staff time towards actions that help our neighbors in need.
This is not about providing our usual services via the internet. This is about figuring out how our mission to save land can also support people in crisis.
Our conservation team is writing grants for agricultural producers.
Our outreach staff is paying first generation college students who have lost jobs in the hospitality industry to help local farmers, repair trails and pull weeds.
A land trust's aspirations towards perpetuity cannot survive if our communities don't survive. Unlike for-profit businesses that are judged on the strength of a balance sheet, we are charities.
This is our time to give.