United Way of Bartholomew County is launching a COVID-19 relief fund to help struggling local residents affected by trimmed work hours, temporary closings of their workplace and other challenges posed by drastic changes around the health threat.
United Way President Mark Stewart said assistance would be designed to include and cover four essential needs: housing, food, clothing and child care, especially with schools forced into students e-learning from home.
He added that he hopes organizers can raise a minimum of about $20,000 initially in just the first three weeks of donations, and more later. He said those in hourly-wage positions in retail and in the service sector may be the hardest hit by closings or cutbacks.
“Things are changing literally by the hour,” Stewart said of developments and orders from Governor Eric Holcomb and other leaders. “A week from now, we’ll obviously know a whole lot more. And I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we eventually would be revising that (fundraising) goal.
“But we believe it’s very important for us to act quickly and get out in front of all this as quickly as possible from a preventive standpoint.
Donations can be made at the United Way of Bartholomew County website at uwbarthco.org and clicking on the relief fund link.
Information: 812-376-3001.
For more on this story, see Thursday’s Republic.
