Staff Reports
Jackson County United Way has released application details for COVID-19 assistance.
In April, the United Way launched a COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund to support immediate economic stability and basic needs throughout the county. To date, the effort has raised nearly $19,000.
The fund’s purpose is to assist nonprofit organizations helping individuals and families with immediate COVID-19-related financial needs not covered by government programs or other traditional relief sources.
Instead, the fund will provide financial assistance to nonprofits organizations who are eligible. To be eligible, a organization must:
Be recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Serve residents in Jackson County
Have an emergent organizational need or have process to provide direct individual assistance for emergent needs.
Examples of appropriate emergency funding include but are not limited to increased organization costs or the need to serve clients in this potential crisis and client emergency needs such as rent/mortgage assistance, utilities, food, household supplies, child care for essential employees, etc.
In considering how United Way needed to distribute these funds, Executive Director Tonja Couch said the organization was thoughtful in who to include at the table.
“We have a wide variety of partners in the community who quickly see and understand unmet needs,” she said. “We assembled this COVID-19 fund distribution committee to bring their expertise and knowledge to ensure we can save safety net service in our community to help those who are working hard and not making ends meet as well as plan for long-term recovery in the midst of this disaster.
“Funding decisions will be based on community needs, funds remaining and other pending requests,” she said. “All requests will be prioritized and funded based upon up-to-date community needs assessments.”
Requests will be reviewed and disbursements made twice a month after approval by a committee selected and approved by the United Way board, she said.
One of the partners is the Community Foundation of Jackson County.
“United Way and the foundation have a strong history of working together to improve our community and to help it work through disasters and challenges such as the flooding in June 2008 and now the effects and impacts of COVID-19,” said Dan Davis, the foundation’s president and chief executive officer.
Organizations wanting to apply can request funds through a simple application process available at jacsy.org/emergencyrelief.
United Way is partnering with nonprofits to make sure there is child care, food and housing and utility assistance in place while keeping an eye on future unmet and emerging needs, Couch said.
“We are focused on ensuring support for those families that have been hardest hit,” she said.
Payments will not be made directly to individuals or families.
United Way has convened weekly conference calls over the last month to discuss emerging and unmet needs with more than 40 nonprofit, faith-based, governmental and community leaders.
Through these conversations, multiple needs have been discovered, specifically meals on Saturday and Sunday, essential child care supports, senior citizens grocery delivery, homelessness housing support and rental assistance.
To have one point of contact for multiple needs, United Way has created a COVID-19 Assistance Referral Form to connect clients to needs to a variety of services. The form can be completed online at jacsy.org/COVIDhelp.
Every $100 donated will be matched dollar to dollar by the Indiana United Ways UNIN20 grant up to $25,000, and 100% of what is raised will be directly invested back into county’s most pressing needs in regards to this pandemic.
Contribution supports the county’s human service needs during economic distress associated with COVID-19. Donations can be made securely at jacsy.org, by calling 812-522-5450, ext. 7, or by mailing a check (Memo: Emergency Relief) to P.O. Box 94, Seymour, IN 47274.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”At a glance” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
For information about the Jackson County United Way’s COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund and to apply, visit jacsy.org/emergencyrelief.
Contribution supports the county’s human service needs during economic distress associated with COVID-19. Donations can be made securely at jacsy.org, by calling 812-522-5450, ext. 7, or by mailing a check (Memo: Emergency Relief) to P.O. Box 94, Seymour, IN 47274.
A COVID-19 Assistance Referral Form has been created to connect clients to needs to a variety of services. The form can be completed online at jacsy.org/COVIDhelp.
[sc:pullout-text-end]