F.Y. 2021-2022
OVERVIEW
The group in the photo above captures what is wonderful about Side by Side. You don’t know any of these people, but you’ve helped create the conditions for them knowing one another. It’s a group of Side-by-Siders soaking in a beautiful day on Spokane’s Centennial Trail, not far from our ministry headquarters. Meet a few of them: Liz (bottom left) is a colorful character who loves to sing (in just about any setting), misses her brothers, has Down Syndrome, and wants to be on The Voice one day. Anna (wide-brimmed hat) came to SBS as a volunteer at a time in life when she was searching for a community with a more authentic expression of faith. She took a nannying job she bring bring the baby with her rather than miss SBS gatherings. Amy (front right) and her parents moved recently from Seattle looking for a better community for her and her needs; they’ve expressed to us the profound gift of SBS during the loneliness of the pandemic. Claire (center) comes with her two children every Thursday, cherishing the friendships and how formative it is for her kids.
That’s Side by Side. People with and without developmental disabilities coming together - coming for various reasons, and with different needs and contributions, but all being changed and enriched by the experience.
You, our supporters, have had a remarkable impact on these and many more people. We hope this report provides you some insight into that impact. We promise to be transparent, sharing both joys and struggles.
Our Mission
To foster a community in which people with and without developmental disabilities experience belonging, friendship, and the life-changing reality of Christ’s love.
Our Core Values
Mutuality. Our relationships are based on sharing a common humanity, therefore we all lead and help and serve one another - not above and below, but side by side.
Beauty. Too often, the world assumes that people with disabilities are fine with whatever. We want to foster a culture and create programs filled with beauty.
Hospitality. The substance of friendship is our gathering together as equals. The spirit of hospitality is simply this: “Welcome. I am glad that you are here.”
Discovery. When we give people the time and attention they deserve, we discover more about one another, ourselves, God, and the world around us.
2021-2022 Highlights
First SBS Overnight Trip
Late last October, 25 SBSers headed to Ingalls Creek near Leavenworth for our first SBS overnight retreat. Read more in our “Stories” section below.
At the Table Again
From our very first gatherings at the Neder house in Oct-Nov 2019, we knew that gathering for meals would be a big part of our identity. One of the hardest parts of the pandemic was how it robbed us of that joy. We’ve been intentionally cautious with our Covid protocols, but it sure was wonderful when we started sharing full-fledged meals again this spring. We kicked things off with a proper feast!
Strengthened Partnerships
We’ve built up a great relationship with our friends at Young Life Capernaum - SBS is now a community that friends from Capernaum can graduate into as they age out of that ministry. We also love our relationships with churches such as Knox Presbyterian and The Garden. In July, SBS led the entire service at Knox, an experience that had a tremendous impact on those present.
Solstice Party
The days get long in the summer here - why not embrace it?! We shared a special evening amongst the pines up at Colbert Pres (site of our very first rally back in 2019!) on June 21… just as the weather decided finally to warm up!
SBSers on the Summer Solstice at the Pavilion at Colbert Pres.
Impact in Numbers
Side by Side’s people
There are over 100 people involved in some way, all known affectionately as “SBSers.”
Who is part of SBS?
50 participants (adults with an intellectual/developmental disability)
30 volunteers (adults without I/DD and not related to a participant)
20 active support people (by this we mean family members or support staff of participants who nevertheless engage with the SBS community like a volunteer)
15 children (of volunteers, staff, or support people); we’ve been surprised and blessed by how cherished their presence is in the community!
7 board members
3 staff members
Side by Side’s Programs
Though programs have varied significantly by season especially due to the pandemic, we currently have six weekly gatherings of various sizes, as well as monthly and occasional special events.
Current weekly gatherings:
The Huddle and Home Groups (Tuesday evening): 50-60 people. These two events alternate: Huddle sees everyone gather together, while Home Groups meet in smaller numbers at SBSers’ houses all around Spokane.
2x Daytime Gatherings (T/Th during the day): 15-25 people. In warmer months, these groups are typically outside, walking or biking together. They also engage in different activities ranging from music to food to art.
3x Morning Prayer (M/W/F): 8-15 people, each morning generally has its own cohort. Read more here.
Monthly/seasonal events:
Farm Days (25-35 people/event): We’re pretty spoiled to be able to gather on the Leim family farm once a month for a day of farm exploration, games, rest, and of course food.
Special Events: lake day, end of summer cookout, sledding, and scavenger hunt, to name a few.
SBS Retreat (25 people): Over Halloween weekend we did our very first overnight trip to a lodge in the Cascade Mountains. More on that below!
Impact in STories
Put simply, our ministry exists because of story. We’re grounded in the story of God’s coming to us in Jesus. And we look primarily to story to measure our own work. If we were strictly a numbers-motivated ministry, it would look a lot different. Below is a story feature from our fall retreat, as well as a glimpse of a couple favorites from our storytelling page.
Retreat
Our Fall Retreat over Halloween weekend was truly a synthesis of all the deepest values of Side by Side, at a needed time. The pandemic had so drastically hindered our capacity to be in person, and so when a group of 25 of us left for a long weekend at a creekside mountain lodge, the contrast was almost overwhelming. Beauty is one of our core values, and it aptly summarizes that trip. The setting: crystal clear water of Ingalls Creek, chilly/sunny fall days, and the inimitable Cascade Mountains hemming us in. The group was exactly what a SBS group should be: a balanced mix of people with and without I/DD. We built fires, hiked, zip lined, and played cards - the kinds of things you want to do with family or cherished friends. But the food is what really held the weekend together. We feasted. And anyone with the desire was welcome to join in on the preparation.
On our final night, as we enjoyed roasted chicken and braised chickpeas and greek salad and flatbread, prepared and shared by our own hands, it did feel like a holy gift to be in the presence of those beautiful people. It surely echoed the abundant hospitality of Jesus and the gathering of all people at God’s table.
After the meal, in case you’re worried we’re getting too serious, we put on Halloween costumes for a runway and dance party. A perfect evening.
Other stories from our archives….
Old Friendship Renewed
An all-time SBS story involves the reunion of two young men - one with I/DD, one without - who were born just days apart to moms who were best friends, and who, 20 years later, have discovered SBS as the context for their adult friendship.
…. One special birthday event held not long after Josiah arrived in Spokane perfectly illustrates the unique web of friendship between the Sonnelands and Pommers. Birthdays in a new town can be tricky—who to invite? And will the invitees even want to come? But Andrew and Krisi were eager to host a party for Josiah and lo and behold, a lot of new SBS friends attended, along with some people from Josiah’s group home. Even Josiah’s dog Ruby showed up! “I can’t believe this is happening,” Heidi recalls thinking as she watched the party unfold, “These people didn’t come just because they tolerated Josiah. They came because they wanted to be here, because they genuinely enjoyed him.” What an apt summary of the kind of mutual friendship that Side by Side is all about, and what a vision of Christ’s free and joyful friendship with us….
Horses and Pancakes
Farm Days are a beloved tradition among SBSers. Here’s a glimpse into one such special day this past fall…
The frost arrived a few weeks early at the Leim family farm, which meant that when we arrived last Saturday, the maple trees were already in full fall glory. They set the tone, literally, for a vibrant day. The first person down the long driveway was actually new to Side by Side, invited by a family member. He asked what this was all about and was told we gather together as people of all abilities to experience life together. He nodded, a mix of curiosity and uncertainty….
Finances
Expenses
As you can see below, the majority of our expenses go toward staff. This is intentional, as everything starts with our good people. At the same time, our program and fundraising expenses are due to rise as pandemic restrictions ease and our ministry grows, highlighting the need for increased financial capacity. (Note: since all three staff members are involved in programming and other responsibilities, the division in staffing expenses between programs/admin/development was an estimate based on how each position is apportioned.)
Income
Financial Position as of June 30: $131,530
Total Donors During FY21-22: 162
New Donors During FY21-22: 57
Monthly Donors: 67
We are especially encouraged by the growth of our monthly donor list, which is providing just over $5,000/month. And we’re beyond grateful to have a healthy balance in the bank. We didn’t know it at the time, but those early gifts have allowed us to weather a 2-year global pandemic that started almost immediately after our founding.
Future Fundraising Goals
While much of the financial situation is encouraging, we are also cognizant of some weaknesses, and the need to broaden our base of support. Our strategy includes:
Greater local fundraising presence: Due to Covid, prior to our Fundraiser Feast in September 2022 we’ve been limited to online fundraising campaigns, in contrast to local events.
Continuing to increase recurring donors: We launched the first annual Steadfast Campaign to convert more one-time donors to monthly.
Side by Side Fund: In partnership with the Innovia Foundation, we’re making plans to create an endowed fund that will create revenue and security for SBS for the long haul.
New grants: As we approach our three year anniversary, we will become eligible for more capacity-growing grants.
challenges
You’ve entrusted us to this ministry, so we want to be transparent with you beyond just the good stuff. So much of what was hard in 2021-22 can be traced back to the obvious: mere weeks after we began gathering as a ministry, Covid-19 changed everything. Here are a couple of our biggest challenges from this past year:
Morale
The the whole community, and particularly the staff team, has been brave and dedicated in enduring the past two years. Still, there’s no question that pandemic ministry excludes or limits much of the best parts of doing this work. Sustaining a brand new ministry through these years has been like building and maintaining a fire in the rain: it’s possible, but it takes constant attention and fuel - an exhausting process. In addition, each of our three staff members have gone through intense personal transitions of various kinds.
This spring and summer will be a time for recalibration, not just of our programs, but of our people. We hope to revisit and refine job descriptions and get people more and more into their sweet spots.
Physical Space
Side by Side needs more room. We’re currently housed in a Lutheran church in the heart of the city. The church is warm and hospitable, and we love the location, but there are also serious shortcomings about not having space that we can truly call home.
Frankly, we all pictured ourselves at a more settled address by now. Covid-19 has delayed that process in some ways, and there are no clear excellent alternatives right now. We also like the idea of owning our own space, but the current real estate market is a big obstacle.
Our top priority is pursuing solutions with the church that owns our current space. If we’re unable to do that - and we should know by the end of April - then we will look for a new home. We are also going to discuss with the board of directors the idea of creating a fund to purchase a building.
Looking Ahead
From our vantage point now in summer 2022, it’s a truly exciting time for SBS. With pandemic restrictions easing, and with the members of our community themselves feeling more at ease gathering in person, we’ve already witnessed a remarkable swell of growth and energy.
Building on this momentum, here are some goals for the coming year:
Staff addition and restructuring. We’re thrilled that we have finalized the process of bringing on a new Administrative Coordinator! Up until now, these duties have been shared amongst our founding team, with willingness but not with expertise. Our new hire will allow us to shift roles that get all staff members more in their wheelhouse, which will in turn have a dramatic impact on our ministry and programs.
Launch a pilot program for the SBS Cafe. This project would likely look very similar to the Reality Cafe in Durham, which has been a huge success.
Build more church partnerships that provide mutual benefit to both SBS and the local congregation.
Continue to grow and welcome new people in while also maintaining a high level of care and attention toward the people already in our midst.
Side by Side has already changed the lives of many people here in Spokane. You’ve helped change those lives. We remain so profoundly grateful for your partnership. If you have questions about anything in this report, or if you want to know more, please reach out.
Peace,
David Sittser
Executive Director