The Brandywine Zoo is Delaware’s only Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited Zoo. The Zoo is located in Wilmington’s Brandywine Park. The facility is home to a variety of species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians and hosts numerous community and educational programs.

Mark Shafer volunteered to take over as interim executive director in May 2020. With a background in banking and risk management, he’s tasked with steering the zoo through a leadership change, as well as a pandemic, which closed the Zoo for months. Shafer and the zoo have managed to build opportunity internally and externally, despite a unique set of challenges.

How did your organization shift or pivot at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic?

It seems like all we did is pivot in 2020.  To start with we anticipated a delayed opening until April at the Brandywine Zoo due to construction of our new Madagascar exhibit. When we were ready to open the state mandated we close for public safety.  Of course, we recognized the necessity to keep our staff, animals and public safe, but we also knew that the spring/summer season revenue, which is typically our highest, would be reduced to zero. To help stay engaged with the public we increased our social media presence and produced some free video content and interactive activities on our website.

What is the biggest or most creative way your organization adjusted to address community needs during the pandemic?

The biggest shift was to expand our online learning offerings.  We offered free videos about animals; we ventured to produce educational content for schools to help provide valuable video content for teachers.  The DCF was instrumental in helping us do so by providing a grant which allowed us to purchase the equipment necessary to produce high quality video content.

Has all that happened in 2020 changed the way your organization will operate in the future, even after the pandemic?

I think it’s impossible to imagine something as impactful as this pandemic won’t have lasting effects on how we operate.  For one, again with the help of the DCF, we were able to put a ticketing reservation system in place which allowed us to manage state-mandated capacity requirements.  We’ve heard from guests that the Brandywine Zoo is a fun and safe place to visit.  The fact that we can better control the number of people visiting us throughout the day via the ticketing system is something we will definitely keep in place long after the pandemic is behind us.

What are the organization’s top priorities going forward?

Our priorities have not changed.  We want to keep the public engaged safely and continue fulfilling our commitment as the dedicated partner of the Brandywine Zoo.  The Delaware Zoological Society will support the Brandywine Zoo’s mission through on-going development and with engaging educational and recreational programming that inspire wildlife protection and conservation.

Going forward, what are you most excited about?

There is so much to get excited about.  We’ve heard repeatedly from guests what the zoo has meant to them during the pandemic.  It really is heart-warming.  But success is not final!  We are expanding our early childhood on-site programming, we continue to expand our virtual educational programming, and we will ramp-up our $5MM fund-raising effort for Phase 3 of the “Zoo re-imagined” campaign which will include a dramatic new entryway and an exciting South American wetlands habitat with Chilean Flamingos! The campaign was paused due to the pandemic but we are eager to pick up where we left off.

Absolutely Flawless Women supports women and young ladies that need assistance with food, clothing, education, transportation, housing, and emergency resources. They offer professional development opportunities, childcare, elderly and veteran’s care, before/after care for children, summer enrichment among other services. They believe that all women can embrace who they are, define their future, and change the world.

Founder Dr. Leshell Dennis has worked to build opportunity in her community through bother her ministry in Millsboro, Delaware, and Absolutely Flawless Women. A certified happiness life coach, Dr. Dennis has made it her life’s mission to heal the wounds of the heart. How she and Absolutely Flawless Women helped heal their community during the COVID 19 pandemic is nothing short of inspiring.

How did your organization shift or pivot at the start of the Covid 19 pandemic?

At the start of the Covid-19 Pandemic, Absolutely Flawless Women Inc. established the Drive-Thru-Thursday event to provide free meals to those in our community from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Through partnerships, we have been able to reach out to students and their families affected by the pandemic and provide them with an additional opportunity to receive free meals at a time of day that is more conducive for working parents who may or may not be able to pick-up meals during the day. 

What is the biggest or most creative way your organization adjusted to address community needs during the pandemic?

Since the conception, Drive-thru-Thursday has been a huge success and it prompted us to adopt a motel in Laurel, DE where we distribute food to the homeless and those in transition. We’ve also to created the Delaware Breakfast Box for students within our community. The Delaware Breakfast Box consists of 5 breakfast meals for students to have a healthy start before engaging in remote or hybrid educational instruction.

What adjustments did you make in response to Covid about which you are most proud?

I am most proud of the adjustments made to the way food is served and distributed, the way mentoring and empowerment is done, and the way in which we provide clothing to those in need. Instead of eating in, we have a drive-thru pickup line to receive food. Free clothing is set-up on tables at the end of the pickup line for those who wish to partake. We still offer weekly empowerment classes. However, some one- on-one empowerment takes place when we engage in conversation with the families while distributing food to them. As the founder of Absolutely Flawless Women, Inc., I have established a couple of life empowerment programs for both women and children, including a mentoring program for teenage girls within the Delmarva region. Mentoring plays a role in helping them overcome barriers they face and accelerate strides they are already making. This is the reason why Absolutely Flawless Women Inc. is utilizing the instruments of mentorship and capacity building to reach out and empower other women. I have always been involved in activities that will empower and put smiles on the faces of others. I am amazed at the outpouring of support that has resulted from this endeavor that is now entering into another year of serving our community via our Drive-Thru-Thursday Event.  It is also very humbling to receive local recognition through Alignable that has awarded me the title of Local Business Person of the Year 2020-2021 in Millsboro, DE. It is truly rewarding to be able to reciprocate the gesture by giving to others.

What risks did you take in the beginning of the pandemic and did they pay off?

As frontline and essential workers during the beginning of the pandemic, our risk of being infected increased by distributing meals to our community during a time of crisis. This was a huge sacrifice and an unselfish action that paid off tremendously by the outpouring of those that have signed up to receive free meals each week; 200-400 meals and 1500 breakfast boxes distributed every Thursday.  Because of our willingness to take a risk, Absolutely Flawless Women Inc. has collaborated with the following sponsors and/or organizations: Indian River School District, Salisbury Middle School, Salisbury Christian Shelter, Salisbury Chambers of Commerce, and Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce. Other collaborations have been with Nourishing Neighbors, Harry K Foundation, Longwood Foundation, Community Bank of DE, Food Lion in Millsboro & Seaford, DE, Cato Fashions For Women, Island Breeze Restaurant in Rehoboth Beach, DE, Good Ole Boy Foundation, Mountaire, Acme, and Safeway.  We have advertised on Channel 47, Delmarva Life, 90.3 FM Radio, YouTube, Facebook, Network for Good, and the Do More 24 campaign.

Has all that happened in 2020 changed the way your organization will operate In the future, even after the pandemic? How?

With all that has happened in 2020, Absolutely Flawless Women Inc. changed to a drive thru pickup format, mobile food pantry, and delivery distribution to the homeless at a local motel. Absolutely Flawless Inc. wants to empower homeless people to gain stability in their lives, to get jobs or start a business for themselves so that they can become productive. Absolutely Flawless Women Inc. hopes to continue running the Mobile food pantry program in which we reach out to feed the hungry especially the low-income earners whose wages or income is not enough to keep them going. My goal is for Absolutely Flawless Women to help as many women and girls, as possible, live healthy, prosperous, lives and to become successful entrepreneurs.

Embrace Delaware, formerly ARISE Delaware, envisions a community where individuals affected by disabilities and their families are fully supported, valued, and included in every aspect of community life. They build community through services such as respite nights, after school programs, summer camps and accessible holiday events. Even more, they provide training for businesses, organizations, schools and churches in order to equip those communities to accept and include families affected by disabilities.

Abby Stewart has been on staff with Embrace since the program began in 2012 and stepped into the Executive Director role in July of 2020. Her passion for creating welcoming and inclusive communities has helped Embrace grow exponentially and truly transform a community. Both Abby and Embrace Delaware work hard to build opportunity every day. I’m so impressed with how they’ve continued that mission during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How did your organization shift or pivot at the start of the pandemic?

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic our organization had to pivot quickly because we had events scheduled three days after the pandemic shut everything down.  We had to get creative really quickly and go virtual before most people had figured out the best way to hold virtual events.  We had to do an event virtually, that we typically host monthly and serves over 40 families, in a way that would hold the attention of our participants.  We did it and got better at it the longer the pandemic shutdown went on.

What is the biggest or most creative way your organization adjusted to address community needs during the pandemic? 

We moved completely virtual.  The biggest thing we did was start doing drop offs at our families’ houses with activities and fun surprises for the kids that we serve.  We drove all over Kent County, Delaware delivering bags of fun.  Sometimes the items in these bags were for an online event that we hosted the weekend after deliveries were made.  Some of the items in the bags were crafts, games, toys and other fun items to keep our kiddos enjoying life during the shutdown.

How will you use what you’ve learned to continue to build opportunity in the future? 

We’ve learned the importance of community for the families that we serve.  They are already a pretty isolated population with only a few supports surrounding them, Embrace being one of them. This shows us that in the future we need to plan more events to get the whole family involved in order to create a strong community of support.

What are the organization’s top priorities going forward?

Our top priority going forward is the continual building of community around our families. We have to keep our kids engaged and understanding that we love them, even if we can’t see them in the same context as before. Additionally, creative planning continues to be one of our biggest goals.

Going forward, what are you most excited about? 

I am most excited to restart in person activities with our families that we serve and seeing our kids face to face!

CAMP Rehoboth, a community center in Rehoboth Beach and recipient of a COVID-19 Community Needs Grant, has a mission of building a community inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities. A mission that became undoubtably difficult during a worldwide pandemic. They seek to promote community well-being on all levels; to foster the development of community groups; to develop community space; to promote human and civil rights; to work against prejudice and discrimination; to lessen tensions among the community at large; and to help foster the economic growth of the area. 

Executive Director David Mariner has been with the organization since October of 2019. I am awed at how David and his team have worked to build opportunity in their community during COVID-19 and the monumental shift they made from a bustling community center in Rehoboth to virtual events and connections that extended to all of Delaware.

How did your organization shift or pivot at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic?

For just about every aspect of our work, we had to find ways to engage more people online.  At the beginning of the pandemic, fewer people were picking up print copies of our popular magazine, Letters from CAMP Rehoboth, and we stepped up our social media presence to engage our viewers online.   Many of our support groups and health and wellness programs, including yoga and meditation, transitioned to virtual formats. Our CAMP Rehoboth Chorus began presenting video performances, and we launched a YouTube channel. Our number of social media posts nearly tripled at the height of the pandemic, and I think our community really appreciated finding ways to stay connected, albeit virtually.

What adjustments did you make in response to COVID about which you are most proud?

Our annual fundraising event, Sundance, also transitioned to a primarily virtual format.  I am proud of our Sundance team, who created engaging virtual events and transitioned to very successful online auction, but I am also extremely proud of our community, our hosts, and our sponsors, who stepped up to support CAMP Rehoboth in the midst of a challenging time.   

Has all that happened in 2020 changed the way your organization will operate in the future, even after the pandemic? How?

When many of our programs went online, we realized the opportunity to connect with folks who are a bit farther away in Sussex County, and even all of Delaware. Even after the pandemic has ended, many of our programs, and particularly our youth programs, will continue to have an online component because we realize how important it is for us to maintain these connections.

How will you use what you’ve learned to continue to build opportunity in the future?

There are two important lessons I’ve learned. First, I have a deeper appreciation for just how important the services are we provide.  A community center really brings people together, and it was during that period when people were most isolated, that I understood just how important those connections are. I will carry that with me as we continue to expand our work.  Second, like many organizations, COVID forced us to make changes quickly, and sometimes testing the boundaries of our comfort level.  I learned we are capable of making big changes, and that often those changes have unexpected payouts. I’m ready for the next center.

Going forward, what are you most excited about?

We are a community center, after all, so I’m most excited about seeing our rooms filled with the people that make it special.