KCAW Fundraising
Dear Editor: Thank you, Sitka! Raven Radio had its on-air fall fundraising drive between Oct. 9 and 14. We ended the drive at 90% of our goal, $90,000. In the next few days, listeners went on line and continued to donate. By week’s end we had met our fall fundraising goal of $100,000.
Thank you to all the listeners who donated, businesses who put up matches and brought us food to fuel the drive and the volunteers who made it happen.
During the pandemic and the inflation that followed Raven Radio did not meet fundraising goals. Our goal now is to return to historic giving levels. Sitka is a community that pulls together, and this drive helped move us toward that goal. If you missed the drive you can still help us by going on-line at kcaw.org and making a donation.
Suzi and Rich McClear
Co-General Managers
Raven Radio (KCAW)
DV Awareness
Dear Editor: We can all feel the seasons changing right now with the last cruise ship having left port, and the quick change in weather. This is a time of the year when the community really comes together planning local events, fundraisers, and ways to keep us connected with the waning daylight.
Strong sense of community is a value that many Sitkans hold. However, many of our community members are facing more and more difficulty meeting their basic needs.
With inflation continuing, the cost of living is steadily, if not drastically, increasing. The cost of food, utilities, and housing is becoming difficult to maintain. Many are getting by, but some people are falling through the cracks. SAFV has had a rise in individuals calling for shelter due to homelessness, and a rise in individuals calling for food. Last month, 95 individuals benefited from our food boxes.
Unmet basic needs are heavily linked to negative health outcomes. While it is clear that the lack of basic needs impacts someone’s day-to-day life and stressors, long-term it also decreases physical functioning and increases the likelihood of depression and even mortality.
Specific to domestic violence, victims who lack their basic needs can be disproportionately impacted. This is not because poverty causes domestic violence as anyone from any background can either be a perpetrator or be a victim of domestic violence. Rather, it can exacerbate the impact of the abuse due to a greater lack of resources that would allow a victim a greater chance of becoming safe.
So, what can we as a community do? In the present moment, we need to work together and close the gaps that are causing individuals to go without. This could include renting to locals, supporting the Sitka Homeless Coalition, and donating food to the food banks in town. Long-term it is critical to support the upstream work different agencies and coalitions in the community are doing to create a healthier, safer community for future generations.
Natalie Wojcik
Executive Director
