United Way launches fund for families, small businesses hurting from coronavirus
As the coronavirus wreaks havoc on the financial lives of many South Florida families and businesses, United Way of Miami-Dade and the Miami Herald/el Nuevo Herald have launched the Miami Pandemic Response Fund through Operation Helping Hands, a community partnership created in 1998 designed to help those in dire need.
The fund will support struggling families with emergency needs including food supplies, utilities, rent/mortgage assistance and issue micro-grants to small businesses, the United Way said.
The fund was launched with $350,000 in seed funding provided by Health Foundation of South Florida, The Miami Foundation, Greater Miami Visitors and Convention Bureau and United Way.
According to United Way, 59 percent of local households already struggle to meet their basic needs, including more than 248,000 families with children. Additionally, 81% of Miami-Dade County businesses have 10 or fewer employees.
“The economic impacts of the pandemic are expected to be significant and longstanding,’’ said Maria Alonso, president and CEO of United Way of Miami-Dade.
To make a donation to the fund, you can use any of these methods:
▪ Visit https://portal.unitedwaymiami.org/COVID19
▪ Call 1-800-226-3320
▪ Give via Venmo @UnitedWayMiami
▪ Give via Paypal at https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/2169193
On Friday, the United Way of the Florida Keys announced that it would commit up to $100,000 to serve “hard-working, paycheck to paycheck” residents in the Keys who are affected by COVID-19’s economic impact.
Monroe County had its first COVID-19 case confirmed Friday morning, the Department of Health said.
The United Way of the Florida Keys will be splitting the committed money three ways:
▪ $10,000 will be given and used by the Florida Keys Outreach Coalition, Keys Area interdenominational Resources, Burton Memorial Church and Star of the Sea Foundation to expand the capacity of their food pantries.
▪ $10,000 is being disbursed to Keys Area Interdenominational Resources and Florida Keys Outreach Coalition to increase short-term emergency financial assistance available to Monroe County residents with documented loss of income.
▪ Up to $80,000 will be available for distribution over the next six months as events and needs unfold.
If you would like to contribute to the United Way of the Florida Keys go to KeysUnitedWay.org.
This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 5:30 AM.
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