Despite delays, donors give more than $115,000 to Loaves & Fishes
What began as an exciting Giving Tuesday at Loaves and Fishes Community Services was soon complicated when its online donation portal, handled by a third party vendor, continuously crashed, resulting in delays and frustration for many people interested in donating.
Despite the complications, donors raised $115,414.30, which smashed the original $60,000 goal set by the Naperville-based organization.
Following Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday started in 2012 as a new tradition on the East Coast and has quickly grown in popularity among nonprofit organizations across the country.
As its name suggests, Giving Tuesday celebrates and encourages philanthropy to kick off the holiday season on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving.
Last year, Loaves and Fishes supporters donated $72,147.89 for the organization around Giving Tuesday. When combined with a $25,000 match from an anonymous donor, the total was nearly $100,000. This year, Loaves and Fishes secured $60,000 in donations from two sources, raising the earning potential to $120,000 because each dollar donated would be matched.
By 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, donations had exceeded $20,000; however, the organization soon was flooded with calls regarding the donation portal crash, and all staff members were fielding phone calls about the problem.
Donors made gifts via the phone, and the organization set up an account on a different platform to accept donations while the third-party vendor resolved the portal crash.
In light of the technical difficulties, the organizations matching donations decided to extend Giving Tuesday efforts into Wednesday, calling the day "Giving Twos-day," since many donors who were interested in giving were unable to on Tuesday due to the crash.
Loaves and Fishes raised $115,414.30, and with the $60,000 match, Giving Tuesday and Giving Twos-day efforts totaled $175,414.30.
The funding will be used to expand nutrition options for children from birth to age 18. The organization anticipates serving 10,000 local children in 2015, and with this funding it will be able to purchase milk, eggs and other healthy food items for families with children.
The products will supplement the grocery assistance Loaves and Fishes' clients already receive, which includes fresh produce, lean meats, grains and other shelf-stable products.
"The outpouring of generosity over the past two days has been inspiring," said Charles P. McLimans, Loaves and Fishes' president and CEO.
"Even with technical delays, donors were determined to give; I am so thankful for their patience and for the staff and volunteers who jumped in to take calls and find alternate solutions.
"I also want to thank our matching donors, The J.R. Albert Foundation and our anonymous donor, for allowing us to extend the deadline into 'Giving Twos-day' and allow more supporters to get involved. This effort will greatly benefit local kids in our community by providing them with the nutrition they need to grow and learn."
Loaves and Fishes, 1871 High Grove Lane, Naperville, provides multifaceted programs such as job search support, food assistance, skill-based classes and public benefit assistance, to low-income West suburban residents.
For more information, visit loaves-fishes.org.