Operating Through This Difficult Time

GlassRoots Virtual Studios and Our Request for Your Support!

Kate introduces the #madeathomechallenge

At this time of great concern for us all, we sincerely hope that you and your loved ones are in good health. I’m writing to give you an update about GlassRoots and how we’re operating during this crisis, invite you to join us in our Virtual Studios, and, frankly, ask for your support.
 
As of today, our plan at GlassRoots is to keep going right through this crisis. We’re committed to physically distancing, but we're equally committed to staying socially connected. Our studios are closed to the public, and they will be for the foreseeable future. Nonetheless, we remain dedicated to providing services to the youth and young adults we serve in the best ways we can; mitigating their isolation and encouraging engagement. 

For a facility-dependent organization, this means we have had to expand our creative thinking in order to find different ways to engage with our community around our work, living our mission, through glass. We are maximizing our social media platforms to create and share interactive virtual programming each week, in our new Virtual Studios. In our first week, we led programs on mosaic making and flameworking; introduced an innovative and creative “Make It At Home” challenge; and hosted a lecture on female craft entrepreneurs (in honor of Women's History Month) for students in our Youth Entrepreneurship programs, together with sharing informative social media posts. Our plans for future virtual programming include interactive live demonstrations, lectures, movie nights, and even special product sales! Our weekly schedule is posted here.

We must also consider the financial implications of this virus and its damaging impact on the important work that we do. Without our income stream from programs, we have reduced staff hours and corresponding pay by 25%, while we remain liable for full rent, taxes, utilities and other overhead during this closure.
 
Please consider helping us through this unprecedented time, so that our service to underserved youth and young adults, through the transformative power of the glass art experience, can continue unabated. We are enormously proud of the incredibly positive impact GlassRoots has had on the lives of so many, and we look forward to continuing to ignite and build the creative and economic vitality of greater Newark. Your gift will help us do this.
 
Online giving allows your generous gift to be put to use immediately. If you are not comfortable sharing your credit card information through our secure website, please email us your contact information, and we will call you to process your donation directly. We also accept gifts of stocks and securities. Please email us for our wiring instructions.

 With our heartfelt thanks and best wishes for your continued good health,

Barbara Heisler
CEO, GlassRoots

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