Message from our treasurer on behalf of the Board of Trustees:
As spring unfolds in all of its glory the coronavirus is unfolding with all of its challenges and Unity of Auburn is not immune to these challenges.
Your Board of Trustees had adopted the budget for 2020 realizing some adjustments to funding of 2020’s expenses would require transferring restricted funds to the general fund for expenses to be met. This budget was developed in February before COVID-19.
Now, COVID-19 has created circumstances that are not in our control. Unity of Auburn must comply with State and Federal recommendations for gathering sizes and circumstances. We are now operating in a “Virtual World”. For many of us that seems overwhelming, but it also creates a financial crisis we must deal with.
65% of our monthly income comes from all of our group activities. These activities include Sunday Service where 65% of offerings for the month are received. The Gift and Thrift Store is closed so we have lost 10% of our monthly income. Rents now will be only 50% or less of expected income since the community organizations using our facilities must cancel their own meetings thus affecting Unity of Auburn income. All our fundraising activities are cancelled so that is a loss of another 35% of our monthly income.
Your Board of Directors met on March 17th to do its due diligence in determining only “Essential” monthly expenses. These “Essential” expenses are those under a signed, legally obligated contract; a signed lease; required by law or essential to the simple existence of Unity of Auburn. The identified “Essential” expenses are 78% of our budgeted monthly expenses. Our reserve funds cannot sustain us. And, at the end of February our offerings were already $4,000 under the needed $8,900 a month to keep doors open and lights on.
Our country is in an economic crisis and our world in a health crisis. Both these circumstances are now creating a financial challenge for Unity of Auburn. Affirmations and prayers plus your proactive financial choices can sustain us.
Your Board asks you to change your contribution process. Your regular contributions can be made through Paypal which is linked to our website. You can mail your contributions to Unity at 1212 High Street, Auburn, Ca 95603. You can call the office at 530-888-6489 and setup automatic monthly/weekly withdrawals from your checking account or a credit against a credit card. The financial future of Unity of Auburn is in the hands and choices of each of us.
We can’t express strongly enough the effects COVID-19 may have on the future of Unity of Auburn. Our mission to teach people how to thrive in a changing world certainly hits home. We are convinced that each of us are able to meet this challenge together. Your donations, love offerings and gifts are the life line of Unity of Auburn and we are so grateful for your support in the past and confident that your continued support will enable us to come through as a thriving, not just surviving, spiritual community.
“I open myself to the Divine flow of goodness, ideas, and substance.”