Variety, The Children's Charity of Detroit, has been helping kids since 1932. Their programs include everything from horseback riding to food assistance to prosthetic hands.
Like all of us, the Coronavirus pandemic caused the organization to have to revamp the ways it operates. Executive Diretor Michelle Murphy joins us to explain.
Through the group's Variety Feeds Kids Program, Variety has been providing weekend meals to children for 8 years. Prior to COVID, these meals were handed out in school on Fridays. Seemingly overnight, Variety's volunteers and partner organizations (including the Oakland County Sheriff's Office) had to pivot. Food still needed to get to these kids, but large groups of volunteers couldn't work together in the age of social distancing.
For obvious reasons, some programs have had to go on a temporary hiatus - like horseback riding. Others, such as KIDS - Kids In Distressed Situations - are continuing to accept and process donations. Michelle explains how the process has adapted to the times, and how Variety is still able to work with its 30 partner charities in this effort. The logistics have changed, but the need hasn't.
The pandemic has also affected Variety's fundraising capabilities, as large scale events are on hiatus during Coronavirus. There's been a shift to corporate donations, and companies here in Metro Detroit have responded.
We close with a few minutes about the Myoelectric Center at Beaumont Children's Hospital. The work that this program does to provide functioning robotic hands to kids is inspiring.
Resource:
Variety, The Children's Charity Detroit Website: http://variety-detroit.com/
Michigan Motors Forward is produced by JAG in Detroit Podcasts in collaboration with Tanner Friedman Strategic Communications.