We’re dealing with unprecedented times in our community and our nation’s history. Our community members need us more than ever, which is why United Way of Northwest Vermont has launched a COVID-19 Community Response that outlines a number of steps to quickly address the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fundraising
First, United Way has created a COVID-19 United Response Fund designed to help our community during this critical time of need. All dollars given through this fund will be used to support nonprofit organizations and people in Northwest Vermont. By giving to this fund, you’re helping our most vulnerable community members battle the unknown. Can you work together with us to respond to our community’s most urgent needs today?
The COVID-19 United Response Fund will rapidly mobilize resources to support organizations on the front lines of supporting communities and families most impacted by COVID-19. In order to mobilize the resources to address both short-term impacts and long-term challenges to the pandemic, we will be working in alignment with the City of Burlington, United Ways across the state, the Vermont Community Foundation, other state/local governments and private funders.
This crisis has brought front and center the economic and health fragility of many Vermonters, an issue United Way works to address year-round.
We will leverage our unique position at the center of business, nonprofit and government organizations to create both immediate and long-term sustainability for our communities.
Can you step up and help with a donation to the COVID-19 United Response Fund?
Volunteer Mobilization
In addition to the fund, we have created an online page—COVID-19 Community Response—to support the role that volunteers can play in helping our neighbors get access to essential items and services while social distancing guidelines remain in effect. The page, updated daily, includes local, grassroots volunteer opportunities across the region and features ways for the community to access help. It also highlights our existing Volunteer Connection resource for nonprofits to post volunteer and in-kind needs.
Program Funding
In order to free up existing resources, we are releasing the fourth payment of year 2 program funding grants to our existing network of nonprofit programs across the region. This payment of $375,000 represents one quarter of the total $1.5 million invested in our local nonprofit ecosystem over the last year. Usually restricted for program use only, we are now allowing these funds to support general operating expenses at each of our funded nonprofits in order to help them through this difficult time serving the most vulnerable members of our community.
Please take a moment to read the full news release on our website.
As always, feel free to reach out to me directly with questions or concerns, or visit our website at unitedwaynwvt.org. We can fight this together, and we’ll be better for it.
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Warm regards,
Jesse Bridges, CEO
United Way of Northwest Vermont