SNOW HILL – Representatives of several local nonprofits used this week’s public hearing on the county’s proposed budget to advocate for funding.
During the public hearing on the Worcester County fiscal year 2018 budget, hosted by the Worcester County Commissioners Tuesday, leaders of several social service organizations outlined what they did for the community and explained why they needed financial support.
“Yes we’re here to ask for help but we want you to know that we work every day, 12 months a year, making a difference in Worcester County in an area where we feel there would not otherwise be service,” said Allyson Bernard-Church, president of Diakonia’s board of directors.
She told the commissioners her organization held six major fundraisers a year but still needed the county’s financial support. Funding provided to Diakonia, she said, was used to help in its mission of providing food, shelter and resources to the community. During the last calendar year she said Diakonia provided 10,754 bed nights to those in need and provided more than 3,000 households — 9,500 individuals — with food. The organization’s 120 volunteers performed 15,600 hours of service to the community.
“We cannot continue to do our job without your support,” Bernard-Church said.
Jack Ferry, executive director of the Worcester County Developmental Center, spoke about his agency’s goal of increasing independence for adults with developmental challenges. He thanked the commissioners for the funding the county has provided the center in the past and said he hoped it would continue, as new laws would require changes for the center and its clients.
“We have a lot of unfunded mandates coming our way but I don’t fear them because I know you’re behind us,” he said.
Stacey Weisner, president and CEO of the Delmarva Discovery Center, said she appreciated the financial investment the county had made in the museum, which expanded to include a river otter exhibit last year.
“The river otter exhibit catapulted us to a major tourism destination,” she said.
She said the Discovery Center, which is open 361 days a year, was involved in various partnerships with other local organizations and provided the community with space to use. She said it also served as the visitor center in Pocomoke. She said that in spite of staff’s best efforts occasionally the museum faced unforeseen expenses. She said just this week the museum was expecting to spend thousands of dollars to replace a heat pump that failed.
“We’re trying to run the Discovery Center like a business but sometimes things happen,” she said.
Anita Wilder spoke on behalf of Town Cats. She said the organization was seeking funding from the county for the first time this year as a foundation it previously received support from had dispersed all funds. Wilder said the group was in the process of developing fundraisers to support its efforts, which include spaying and neutering cats.
“We also adopt out as many cats as we can socialize so that way they go to real homes and are not just held in shelters forever,” she said, adding that the organization did maintain three sanctuaries for older cats that couldn’t be adopted out.
“I’m hoping you’ll see we’re worthy to receive some assistance,” she said.
