May 25, 2020 at 7:58 p.m.
Generosity abounds across community during time of crisis
Generosity abounds across community during time of crisis
By Stephanie Kuski-
It becomes almost cathartic at this point in the pandemic to focus on those unexpectedly positive outcomes. While there are many fears as to what our "new normal" will look like, there is hope that part of that will include the incredible amounts of generosity we have seen across our community.
In the hopes of keeping some of those philanthropic energies going, here we highlight a few community members, organizations and businesses that have gone the extra mile to support our community during this time.
Rhinelander Community Foundation
The intent to spotlight community members who have gone to great lengths in support of others during this crisis extends far beyond the confines of this article. The Rhinelander Community Foundation (RCF) is also highlighting those individuals via nominations for their Unsung Difference Maker awards.
RCF Secretary Janet Jamison said they have been accepting nominations since before the pandemic occurred. She said the original plan was to honor those nominees at their Dine For A Difference event later in the month, but since that event has been canceled, the group now plans on highlighting those nominations on the RCF Facebook page twice a week over the next few months.
In addition, nominees will have their names placed in a drawing for a chance to give a $250 grant from RCF to a local nonprofit of their choice.
"It's just another way for us to show our support to the community and also thank all of the people who are working behind the scenes day in and day out to make this a better place," Jamison said.
Over 20 nominations were received and some individuals received more than one nomination, Jamison said, resulting in about 16 or 17 individuals who were ultimately nominated.
"It's really been a great mixture of all different kinds of people who are working together to make Rhinelander great," Jamison commented. "As the nominations are coming in, we've noticed some of the nominees are longtime volunteers for local nonprofits, some are people's friends and neighbors who have just gone out of their way to help those in need, some have supported our local front line healthcare workers or small businesses through the pandemic."
In April, the RCF also approved a grant in the amount of $4,000 to the Helping Hands program at the St Mary's Hospital Foundation in support of their healthcare workers.
Northwoods Small Biz Bids
One RCF Unsung Difference Maker nominee is was Meg Sprecksel, administrator of the Facebook page Northwoods Small Biz Bids. In just over a month, Sprecksel has forged a substantial online following and her auctions have put over $14,000 back into the pockets of small businesses in our community, as of this writing.
The auction process goes like this: small businesses contact Sprecksel with images of products, baskets or gift certificates they want to auction off that are bid on in this Facebook group. Bids go live at 7 p.m. on Friday and the auction closes at 9 p.m. Sunday. Once the auction closes, the business contacts the winner to set up payment and shipping. That way, Sprecksel acts as the middlewoman in organizing the bids online, but the businesses and bidders have direct contact when it comes to exchanging products and payment.
"I do it completely free of charge, I don't take any commission off the auctions," Sprecksel said. "It was just my way of giving back to the community during this time."
Sprecksel said the auctions are limited to Northwoods businesses, but those interested have the freedom to auction off whatever products or gift certificates they want.
"I have a lot of friends that are business owners downtown, so it really started as an outreach to them, giving them a place that they could sell their products," Sprecksel said. "So I started it with that and it just grew into this."
Many local businesses and nonprofits have benefitted from Sprecksel's auctions, helping businesses get products off the shelf and into the hands of customers. Even when bidders don't win the items they bid on, oftentimes they still end up contacting those businesses for the items they wanted, Sprecksel added.
"It's really heartwarming seeing the community coming together in so many ways," Sprecksel said. "I have never once felt it wasn't appreciated. All the businesses have just been so amazing to me and are grateful for everything."
Soft Light Photography
Soft Light Photography owner Temel Yasar had to close his studio when the state's Safer at Home order went into effect in March, but that freed up some time for him to use his skills in a way.
Since then, Yasar has reached tens of thousands of people via his Facebook page where he started the Front Steps Project. He has photographed hundreds of Northwoods families and a dozen local businesses in short sessions that respect social distancing, often photographing them on their front steps.
In doing so, he has helped raise over $1,500 on behalf of Northwoods Alliance for Temporary Housing (NATH) - Frederick Place. That effort has been matched by the Briar House, which sponsored the project with dollar-for-dollar donations. As an example, if you donate five cups of coffee to frontline workers, Briar House will match that with five more cups of coffee.
"The purpose of this project is to bring us together and take care of our neighbors," Yasar posted on his Facebook page. "I aim to highlight the faces of our community during a time when we might not see them in passing at the grocery store, coffee shop, restaurants, bars or at the gym."
Yasar also recently started the RHS 2020 Graduates Project, photographing graduates in their cap and gown.
In lieu of payment for the senior portrait, Yasar is asking families to donate to the Hodag Fab Lab, which has been 3D printing Montana HEPA protective face masks for local front line workers.
"At this time, the Fab Lab is doing an exemplary job of supporting the community by printing these masks," Yasar said. "I thought it was the perfect fit for this project because they are using technology and science to help people in these extremely difficult times. So that shows the importance of science and technology to students and the community, and I just wanted to support that project this way."
In doing so, Yasar said he hopes to bring awareness to these efforts while making this time special for those graduates who will not have the opportunity to celebrate their graduation in a traditional sense.
Yasar said he is hoping more 2020 RHS graduates to book sessions. Those interested can connect with him via his Facebook page.
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