Dear Friends,

A fall update. (AKA: The new normal!)

I hope this finds everyone healthy and well!

When we first shut down in mid-March, it seemed impossible to think that we’d still be working at home in the fall. Now it is clear that we’ll be working remotely certainly through the end of the year. But, as you may know, through these months of illness, worry, economic reversals, social upheaval, and natural disasters, we have been busier than ever. As I wrote earlier, it has been wonderful and inspiring to see so many people from all walks of life working together to make a better world. And, for those who missed it, here is a video of what we’ve been up to since March.

As always, we couldn’t have done it without you – the extraordinary, kind and generous Big Sunday community. In fact, it’s also been so nice (great, really) to hear from so many of you over these past few months. And always the first question is the same: “How can I help?” Thank you.

This fall, all of us at Big Sunday are continuing to work from home. Like everyone else, we’ve been doing our best to stay safe, healthy, informed, engaged, calm and collected. Personally, I continue to think there’s something to be said for trying to keep one’s sense of humor, too.

Here’s what we’re doing:

• We’re sending a daily e-mail (well, Monday through Friday) including ways you can connect, ways you can help, and ways you can stay entertained. Everyone on the staff will be weighing in. For sure, we’d love to hear from you, too! Let us know what you’re doing (even if it’s just hanging around) and how you’re doing. To receive the email, contact lauren@bigsunday.org.
  
  
• We’re in touch with our sister nonprofits all over town, and are doing our best to help them fill their needs. For the most up-to-date requests, check our daily email, as well as our Facebook and Instagram pages, plus our online Community Calendar, too.
  
  
• Our headquarters on Melrose will be open every Wednesday morning from 10 – noon to drop off items to be given away to those who are struggling. We’ll have a special focus and goal each week (e.g., food, clothing). Drop-offs will be no-contact and socially distant. And yes, you can bring things not necessarily being collected that day. (You’re welcome!).
  
  
• We’re celebrating our fall favorites! Our annual book collection and celebrations for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the year-end holidays will proceed (of course!) albeit in a slightly different way. (Want to be involved? Awesome! Let us know, we need you!)
  
  
• We’ll continue with all kinds of our popular online programming, both entertainment and interactive.
  
  
• We’re introducing our new Big Sunday Resource Guide, which grew out of the spring’s protests and including loads of information for those looking to help create a more just and equitable world.
  
  
• We’re also introducing our first-ever discussion series. It’s called 7D: Can’t Live With ‘Em, Can’t Live Without ‘Em. (Hint: It’s about the 7 Deadly Sins in the modern world, and will be moderated by 7 fascinating and fun individuals.)
  
  
• Our 18^th (or 19^th)(we couldn’t keep track even before COVID) Annual Holiday List, with hundreds of ways to help at the holidays, will be posted on November 1.
  
  
• We continue to fill all kinds of emergency needs (from food to refrigerators) through The Big Sunday Emergency Fund.
  
  
• We continue to pay thousands of dollars covering bills of all kinds through our special COVID Foot the Bill Fund.
  
  
• We are hosting numerous online corporate days of service, providing help to nonprofits and engaging employees all over America.
  
  
• And we’re going to keep bugging people to make sure that everyone who is eligible to vote registers and votes!
  
  
• Of course, you can always email me at david@bigsunday.org or anyone else on the staff, too. (Our email addresses are ourname@bigsunday.org. (Except David McB whose email is, naturally, davidmcb@bigsunday.org.)

Please take good care of yourself and everyone around you. We’re here for you. Of course, now more than ever we’re all in it together. (And, for the record, we’ve been saying that for years – long before it was fashionable!)

With love and best wishes from all of us at Big Sunday – Berenice, Beenish, David McB., Pablo, Tamara, Ty, Lauren, Naia and myself.

David