Giving Tuesday: How to support nonprofits during pandemic

Valerie’s House

Southwest Florida nonprofits are helping people through their darkest days.

The need is especially great this year. Food banks have record demand, and nonprofits such as Valerie’s House say it’s busier than ever.

“We’ve had to hire more people,” said Angela Melvin, the Valerie’s house CEO and founder.

Between new safety guidelines, including smaller group sizes and the need for more supplies, costs are up at a time when donations are down.

Melvin started Valerie’s House in memory of her mom, Valerie. It provides peer-to-peer grief counseling to young people who lose a loved one.

“One out of thirteen kids in the state of Florida will lose a parent or sibling before the age of 18,” Melvin said.

And Stori McDougall of Cape Coral is one of them.

“I don’t really want to think about what would’ve happened if this place wasn’t here,” McDougall said.

McDougall’s mom died suddenly five years ago. She says one-on-one counseling didn’t help, and classmates couldn’t relate.

“It’s like two worlds apart,” McDougall said. “Even if I’m talking to my best friend, she can only understand so much. She can only be there for so much. She’s never lost anyone like I have.”

Gulf Coast Humane Society