(Posted March 19, 2020)
The board of directors of the United Way of Clark, Champaign & Madison Counties announced the creation of the Clark Champaign Madison COVID-19 Community Fund to support individuals and families affected by the impact of the Coronavirus.
“COVID-19 is not only a health crisis but an economic crisis, as well,” said Steven McCready, United Way board president. “The steps our communities have and will take for the foreseeable future in response to the health crisis will undoubtedly leave a significant number of our most vulnerable population unable to meet their basic needs. This unprecedented need for services will leave many of our non-profit agencies without the financial resources to meet the anticipated demand.”
The Clark Champaign Madison COVID-19 Community Fund has been established to ensure that every dollar donated to the fund remains in the organization’s three counties. As with every gift to United Way of Clark, Champaign & Madison Counties, every dollar stays in the county from which the donation was received or designated by the donor.
“It is unclear as to what the needs for our communities will be over the course of the next few months, but what we do know is that our first priority is to assist our food banks/food pantries in feeding the hungry and to ensure that the homeless have appropriate shelter,” said Kerry Lee Pedraza, executive director.
“For this reason, as dollars are donated and received by the fund, they will be distributed to such agencies as Second Harvest Foodbank, Interfaith Hospitality, Caring Kitchen (Clark, Champaign), Help House, Good Samaritan Food Pantry and Bridges Community Action (Madison.)”
Della Selsor Trust is making a lead gift of $10,000 to the fund. Any organization or business interested in joining the Della Selsor Trust should contact Kerry Pedraza at (937) 324 -5541.
Others interested in making donations may do so online at www.uwccmc.org/covid-19-community-fund or by sending a check to: Clark Champaign Madison COVID-19 Community Fund, c/o United Way, P.O. Box 59, Springfield, OH 45501-0059. Donors may designate the county to which their gift goes. All donations are tax-deductible. All funds received will be distributed to the counties without any allocation for administrative overhead.
“It is not just financial resources that are needed at this time, but our communities are in desperate need of volunteers,” Pedraza said. “With increased financial needs and the direction for vulnerable populations to refrain from being out in the public, a significant void has been left. For those in our community that are able and willing to give of their time, volunteer opportunities for all three counties are listed at www.uwccmc.org/volunteer.”
For more information, contact Kerry Lee Pedraza at kpedraza@uwccmc.org or (937) 324-5551.
