JOHN BAILEY
Worry and fear have become the new normal for many during the current crisis created by the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Catawba County United Way (CCUW) decided in mid-March to gather the resources it had to bring back some hope to those devastated by this pandemic. It created the Catawba County United Way COVID-19 Response Fund.
Eight local non-profit organizations recently received the first allocations from this fund affecting the lives of nearly 500 individuals.
The CCUW Community Impact Committee voted on a total distribution amount of $33,612 out of the $86,500 initially raised through donations from individuals and foundations.
As the current crisis continues to grow each day, the need for additional donations does as well. Individuals and businesses are encouraged to make contributions to the Response Fund to ensure even more non-profits can be helped.
The Committee’s focus during this first cycle was on supporting the most immediate needs currently created by COVID-19. They also wanted to make sure there was no duplication of services.
The agencies receiving funding included:
Adult Life Programs ($5,000) – to supplement funds used to help feed participants in their program – 90 individuals helped.
ALFA-AIDS Leadership Foothills Area Alliance ($5,000) – to meet the increased need for emergency financial assistance for people living with HIV/AIDS, including assistance with housing, utilities, food and medical needs – 50 people helped.
Safe Harbor ($5,000) – to be used by the agency for expenses incurred by COVID-19 to support for women in the agency’s transitional apartments – 16 individuals helped.
The Salvation Army of Greater Hickory ($5,000) – to purchase additional food and resources for the homeless residents and help to cover the cost of more employee hours to man the shelter 24/7 – 46 individuals helped.
Catawba Valley Behavioral Health Care ($2,112) – provide lunch meals for individuals with serious mental illness and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities living in the agency’s 5 Group Homes; and provide lunch or dinner meals (or groceries to make meals) 7 days per week for individuals with serious mental illness residing in our Apartments – 46 individuals helped.
Exodus Homes ($5,000) – funds to be used by the agency for expenses incurred by COVID-19 – 73 individuals helped.
Family Care Center ($1,500) – to provide transportation, food, paper products, cleaning supplies for the agency’s clients – 15 individuals helped
The Corner Table Soup Kitchen ($5,000) – to purchase supplies for the soup kitchen, to-go-bags, frozen meals, and for food supplies for the backpack program – 160 individuals helped.
The CCUW will continue to prioritize funding as it is available for front line programs providing aid to Catawba County residents affected by emerging health, economic, and social impacts caused by the current crisis.
You can support this fund by donating online at http://www.ccunitedway.com/Covid-19-Emergency-Fund-donations or through our Facebook page, facebook.com/catawbacountyunitedway/.
Also visit the CCUW’s COVID-19 resource webpage for more information: http://www.ccunitedway.com/COVID-19-Resources.
This funding is collected separately from those dollars allocated through Catawba County United Way’s annual campaign.