As Delta Center Stage sits silent and empty during the COVID-19 crisis, Tim Bixler is doing his best to make sure that the Greenville theatre will be ready to open back up once he and his actors are given the green light that it is safe to return to action.
Bixler, the executive director of the Delta Center Stage, is one of several leaders of non-profit organizations in the community who have been working hard to help ensure that their organizations survives past the current coronavirus pandemic.
Since many of these organizations, like the DCS, involve such close personal contact, they are in a complete freeze for the time being.
“We cannot do what we do until social distancing guidelines are relaxed. Period,” Bixler said. “There are no workarounds in our business. Theatre is an interpersonal activity, that’s just the way it is. We could play games about ‘zooming’ or virtual rehearsals, etc., but at the end of the process; when we put our product together, it is real human beings in close contact. So it is something we cannot, and would not, do until we all know more about what we are dealing with.”
Some non-profits in the community, like Delta Center Stage and the Hodding Carter Memorial YMCA, have been able to obtain federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in order to pay their employees during this crisis.
The PPP loan has allowed Greenville YMCA Executive Director Bob Williams to retain all full-time staff and invite all part-time staff back to work.
“This has allowed us to perform enhanced cleaning as well as do some planning on the specifics of what a re-opening might look like from our side of things,” Williams said.
While the YMCA remains closed, Williams’ employees are still finding creative ways to reach out to their members.
“Many of our staff have used social media platforms and group meeting sites to reach out to young gymnasts, senior group exercise participants, those in some of our healthy lifestyle classes (Blood Pressure Self Monitoring) and for a time we offered school-age child care until it was no longer an option,” Williams said.
At Delta Center Stage, Bixler said his organization was also thankful for the PPP loan and credited the close-knit community of Greenville for helping his organization receive it quickly.
“Deep thanks goes to Planters Bank and Parker England and also to Karen Lee of Lee and Lee PA,” Bixler said. “The kind of personal attention and care that DCS received to make it happen was something others in my business across the country are very envious of right now. Greenville got this one right.”
While some local non-profits throughout the community have benefited from the PPP loans, other smaller non-profits did not qualify.
Since 2004, the non-profit organization Camp Looking Glass has been providing sleep-away summer camps and year-round recreational activities to children and adults with disabilities in the Mississippi Delta, all at no cost to campers and their families. Because Camp Looking Glass does not have any employees, Camp Looking Glass Director Jennifer Boyce said there was no reason to apply for the PPP loan.
Because of the pandemic, Camp Looking Glass has had to cancel all of its April and May activities.
“We were very disappointed to cancel camp after 15 summers, but the safety and health of our campers/their families, volunteers, and anyone involved with the support and growth of Camp Looking Glass is our number one priority,” Boyce said. “Our primary concern is with our community members who are impacted, especially within the disabled community, where health risks can be more dangerous.”
Whether they have received federal assistance or not, officials at each local non-profit said they still can use all the support they can from the community.
Bixler said he encourages people to continue to support the DCS landlord, the E.E. Bass Foundation.
“E.E. Bass and the Greenville Arts Council have, like us, been forced to shut down. PPP is limited in its objective to save jobs and salaries etc. Expenses related to managing a property such as the Cultural Arts Center keep coming. Help them any way you can,” Bixler said.
Bixler is also asking for those loyal customers to the Delta Center Stage to be patient.
“When we produce our schedule of shows for the next season, whenever that may be, please buy your season tickets with confidence that you will get the product we produce,” Bixler said. “It may be necessary that we ask our long-time supporters to be patient with exactly when that will be; we may need to ask folks to write checks before all plans and dates are finalized, but it will happen.”
At Camp Looking Glass, Boyce said people can donate to future programming or land development by sending donations to P.O. Box 392, Greenville, MS 38702. Donations can also be made through PayPal, or on the Camp Looking Glass Facebook page.
And, at the YMCA, Williams said his organization is so thankful to the loyalty of its members. He asked that it continues.
“We are thrilled at the loyalty of our membership by sticking with us during these challenging times,” Williams said. “Our outreach into the community may be modified but we will continue to be true to our mission of service to all. This can only happen with a strong membership base and other community supporters. We never take them for granted and are very appreciative of their role in making the Y what it is.”
