Give at loveflushing.org.
Sitting in the comfort of her Flushing home, Dawn Hiller felt the isolation of COVID-19. At the same time, she desired to do something. She could not go out and volunteer. Conversing with friends, Dawn realized she was not the only person in Flushing looking to do something. Plus, she had a stimulus check waiting to do some good.
“I felt like if I could do something, it would make me feel better about the situation we are in,” Dawn said. “My affiliation with the Flushing Area Community Fund got me thinking about establishing a fund where the money would be directed to community now.”
With that in mind, Dawn established the Flushing Urgent Relief Fund to support nonprofit organizations serving people in Flushing. The Fund is advised by members of the Flushing Area Community Fund Advisory Committee, where Dawn serves as the committee chair.
“I’ve lived here since 1978 and one thing I know is that our community really works well together in times of need,” Dawn said. “I remember when we worked in shifts to build the playground at Riverfront Park. It is the same way today. Many nonprofits here do tireless work, providing benefits to our community that we would not otherwise have. I know that spirit exists, that there are others who feel the same way.”
Addressing today’s COVID-19 pandemic is important now, Dawn says, with hopes that the Fund will continue to grow for future needs.
“I know we’re going to make an impact in people’s lives with the crisis right now. There are so many unique situations to address right now. We can’t do it all, but we sure can make a dent,” she said.
Dawn encourages people who are not financially challenged at this time to consider making a gift to the fund at www.loveflushing.org.
“The stimulus money we get is great, but for me that money wasn’t going to do the same thing as it would for someone who has lost their job or has no income. I have received so much love from being part of this community and look forward to passing along that same love (through the establishment of this Fund) to those in need in our community.”