In a year defined by isolation, closed businesses and general uncertainty, locals came to depend on the Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) more than ever.
But fortunately, the community also rallied behind WCSS like never before.
This was the theme that dominated at the organization's Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, June 23. Held in a hybrid format, WCSS staff and board members gathered in-person at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler while other stakeholders and residents tuned in via Zoom to discuss how the organization has fared since the pandemic began.
"During this crisis, revenue for our stores [the Re-Use-It and Re-Build-It centres]—we had to shut down for three months and then run at only partial capacity because of COVID—were decimated," said Steve Aikins, WCSS board of directors vice-chair. "But with the overwhelming support of the community, organizations and governments, WCSS revenue was at its highest level ever, allowing us to dramatically increase our services—obviously the food bank, outreach—in order to meet our community's needs, which we did."
In facing an unprecedented demand for its services, WCSS saw an increase to its costs during the COVID-19 pandemic. With volunteer programs reduced, wages and benefits payable rose to $133,843 from $93,129 in 2019-20, while program costs climbed to $1,251,090 from $924,856. Office and general administration expenses also more than doubled, from $4,878 to $10,731
However, the organization's excess of revenue over expenses for the 2020-21 fiscal year came to $582,474, compared to $197,513 in 2019-20.
That positive statistic is directly attributable to a spike in donations and grants. Though thrift store revenue dropped to $1,376,420 in 2020-21 from $1,672,400 the year before, WCSS pulled in $1,692,880 in donations and grants compared to $628,002 in 2019-20.
Here are a few other important highlights from WCSS's AGM:
- The creation of Whistler's first-ever Food Security Fund, which currently rests at $250,374
- Food Bank visits were up 87 per cent in 2020 over 2019, from 3,005 visits to 5,642. The Food Bank is expected to see 6,300 visits in 2021
- WCSS Outreach Services saw a 52 per cent uptick in 2020. The organization experienced 3,233 visits in 2019 for it's one-on-one or group sessions for mental and emotional wellbeing and peer support, compared to 4,922 in 2020. That number is projected to reach 6,000 visits in 2021
- WCSS' School Lunch Program is projected to provide 82,000 servings in 2021, compared to 12,159 in 2020
- WCSS provided 368 room nights of accommodations to help residents safely isolate from January 2021 to May 2021
- $160,179 was raised through bottle recycling in 2020
- The Food Bank's home delivery program that began in late fall 2020 provided 50 deliveries from when it began until the New Year, and is projected to reach 750 deliveries in 2020
- This year, WCSS formed a standing committee responsible for considering diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the organization
Stay tuned to Pique for more details from Wednesday's WCSS AGM.
