United Way of the Midlands Releases First Round of Grants to Community Impact Partners
Columbia, S.C. (April 6, 2020) – United Way of the Midlands announces the release of its first round of grants totaling $70,000 from the United Way of the Midlands COVID-19 Response Fund to support Community Impact Partners in Richland, Lexington, Fairfield, Newberry, Orangeburg and Calhoun counties.
The grants will be used to address the immediate increased COVID-19 response with agencies serving individuals, youth and families experiencing homelessness, emergency financial assistance, food bank programs and people experiencing mental illness. Applications are open now to Community Impact Partners for new applications.
“We are fortunate to have strong community partners to meet the increased, complex needs of helping people during COVID-19,” said Sara Fawcett, United Way of the Midlands President and CEO. “We have opened our COVID fund applications process and volunteer review teams are meeting weekly so we can quickly respond to the rapidly changing needs of our partners and Midlands community.”
United Way of the Midlands will send 100% of donations from the United Way of the Midlands COVID-19 Response Fund to Community Impact Partners who assist people in Richland, Lexington, Fairfield, Newberry, Orangeburg and Calhoun counties who have been affected by this outbreak. United Way is working with these partners to identify the highest priorities for basic needs and will work through them to assist individuals and families.
In March, United Way of the Midlands and its volunteers also assisted the community by:
· advancing grant payments to Community Impact Partners to help keep them going and allowing greater flexibility in operating support.
· coordinating with service providers and officials to care for people experiencing homelessness.
· assembling 900 reading totes with thousands of books and school supplies for local school children through the Young Leader Society’s Book Bunny initiative. The totes were given to eight local school districts to distribute to children in need.
To donate, visit uway.org/covid19.
If you are in need of assistance, please call 2-1-1 or visit www.sc211.org, United Way’s statewide information and referral service.
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About United Way of the Midlands
United Way of the Midlands is the most collaborative, efficient and accountable model for investing in the improvement of the Midlands community. With nearly 70 Community Impact Partners, United Way works to identify and respond to the critical human service needs of Calhoun, Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg and Richland counties. Funds are raised through workplace campaigns, grant writing and individual donations and are directed to fight for causes including childhood literacy, economic mobility and dental and eye care for those without resources. For more information, please visit www.uway.org.