COLUMBUS, Ind. — The United Way of Bartholomew County COVID-19 Relief Fund launched two months ago has collected $522,313 — and dispersed $175,000 in assistance to nine certified local United Way agencies.
Those agencies, in turn, have distributed funds to 2,486 local residents, often for multiple needs for housing, general financial assistance, food and more, according to Mark Stewart, United Way president.
Both the relief fund and the financial disbursements, sometimes given within a couple days of clients’ requests, will continue indefinitely, Stewart said. Donations still are needed, he said.
Food remains the leading need, according to Stewart’s statistics. In fact, the figures show that the need for groceries is double the need for housing or financial assistance.
Most clients seeking help from a range of local nonprofits come with a variety of needs brought on by job loss and other gaps amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“It really can become a downward spiral for them,” Stewart said. “That’s one of the reasons we tried to get on top of this so quickly, because sometimes a fairly small amount of money can help people in trouble.”
“Without early help, if people start juggling what little they do have, then bills often begin to be paid later and later. And then it becomes a bigger and bigger issue.
“But we’ve found sometimes as little as $100 can help a family initially stem the tide of an economic problem.”
Stewart acknowledged that operating the fund “will probably continue for a number of months as this becomes a question of ‘How do we all learn how to live with this (virus) a little longer?'”
Stewart also mentioned that, currently, community resources such as food and other aids such as rent and utility assistance seem adequate to meet needs.
“I would say that we are managing pretty well at the moment,” he said. “But, ask me again in a couple weeks and my answer may have changed.”
Many people seeking assistance never have needed such help before, Stewart said. He has mentioned within the past month that those working in the hospitality industry, from hotels to restaurants, especially have been hit hard by closings, furloughs and food insecurity.
One nonprofit agency especially grateful for United Way grants from the relief fund is Just Friends Adult Day Services, normally providing structured programming and mental and emotional stimulation for the older, more frail population. Many of the Just Friends clients are living with symptoms of dementia.
And Just Friends has been closed since mid-March by Gov. Eric Holcomb’s order to protect older residents. And that order lasts at least through the end of May.
But its staff, still being paid even without client’s payments, has been checking on clients via phone calls twice per week — and just last week began sanctioned, outdoor home visits with face masks and safe distancing.
Staffers say the visits are hugely important to a population that already battles depression, loneliness and isolation.
“We’ve heard from some family members that their loved ones have experienced a decline without the mental and social stimulation we provide,” said Jamie Zobrist, Just Friends executive director.
United Way relief funds have made it possible for activities bags, including client-appropriate materials from books to exercise bands, to be home delivered. Plus, the funds have begun covering home-delivered meals to some clients unable to prepare food.
“I do have hope that we can make things work (normally) again,” Zobrist said.
