On March 12, with first-hand information from board member Derek Foss (Koochiching County Director of Public Health), our Board of Directors decided to cancel all Backus programs, events, banquets and performances unless there was a “compelling need to hold them.” All Backus volunteers were asked to stay home and more stringent cleaning strategies were implemented. With that directive, virtually everything has been cancelled through April and likely for the foreseeable future. Only three of our tenants still have limited office staff on site and all are considered “essential services.” The only Backus program still providing service is our Community Café which has provided a free, hot, nutritious meal to anyone in the community since December 2012.
The Café had been serving 45-50 people each Tuesday/Thursday in our Dining Room from January to mid-March. On March 17 we changed to a call-in and carry-out service only. With more need for healthy meals, social distancing and successive directives from our Governor, restaurants/bars were closed, and finally, a “stay at home” directive was released. The conditions caused our Café meals to jump from 50 per night to 70, then 120 and now 150+ each Tuesday and Thursday. We project the increased number of meals will increase our costs by $3,500/month. Since 2012, the Café has served over 46,000 free meals to guests of all ages.
Now, after discussion and consideration for the safety of all, effective next Monday, April 13, our building will be closed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Tuesdays and Thursdays we will conduct business and continue to operate the Community Café, which we never anticipated would rise to this level of critical importance in our community.
We look forward to future correspondence where we can inform you of Summer Art Week, open gyms, Summer Food Service, the Performing Arts Season and other exciting events we have planned in the future. As history has shown us, humanity is resilient and we can overcome.
We sincerely thank you for your support and interest in Backus Community Center. Stay well.
Ward Merrill, Executive Director
