Whitehead: Join the movement and show how Scottsdale cares

When we all pitch in, we all win. The world of COVID-19 casts a dark shadow over all of us --- but helping others breaks through. You will feel better, and our community will be better for it.

Few could argue that 2020 has been a difficult year.

The threat of a deadly virus has upended all aspects of our lives and the actions taken to control its spread have had serious side effects on our economy, local businesses, social wellbeing, and family finances.

Like any city, Scottsdale has residents who struggle to make ends meet. People who work hard, but worry each month about whether that hard work will be enough. COVID-19 has compounded those difficulties --- it affects the most vulnerable in our community to a larger degree.

Residents often reach out to me with the simple question, “How can I help?”

As it turns out, any resident with an extra $1 per month can make an impressive difference. Shortly after I began serving on the City Council, I learned about Scottsdale Cares program, which is the city’s voluntary donation program that allows residents to add an extra $1 or more to their monthly utility bill.

That money supports a wide variety of social service programs in our community --- critical things like teen suicide prevention, drug intervention and prevention, utility assistance, homeless outreach, youth mentoring and job skills for people with learning disabilities. The donations are tax deductible and without administrative fees.

During the 2008 recession, participation in Scottsdale Cares declined almost by 50% and the donation levels never recovered to pre-recession levels even as needs increased. Then COVID-19 hit.

While COVID-19 presents the most serious threat to our city’s welfare in my lifetime, it also presents this community an opportunity to work together, protect neighbors and cushion the blow of this global crisis.

In June, I challenged 1,000 Scottsdale residents to match my $1,000 per month donation with a $1 per month donation Scottsdale Cares. Since June, generous donors have doubled the challenge by donating more than $5,000 since the challenge began.

Let’s keep it going --- if 1,000 more people join the challenge, we will have raised more than $10,000, which is enough to provide 20 low-income, at-risk youth with adult mentors who will join them for academic, athletic and enrichment activities.

If we could add $20,000 to the Scottsdale Cares program, that would provide emergency rental assistance for more than 20 families right here in Scottsdale – a critical lifeline for people in need.

When we all pitch in, we all win. The world of COVID-19 casts a dark shadow over all of us --- but helping others breaks through. You will feel better, and our community will be better for it.

So please, join the movement and donate what you can – just visit ScottsdaleAZ.gov and search “cares.”

Editor’s Note: Solange Whitehead is an elected member of Scottsdale City Council.