Fund helps organizations aid area residents
United Way of Tuscarawas County is continuing to mobilize community resources to help Tuscarawas County citizens improve their lives and weather the COVID-19 storm.
United Way of Tuscarawas County is continuing to mobilize community resources to help Tuscarawas County citizens improve their lives and weather the COVID-19 storm.
Back in March UWTC created the COVID-19 Community Response Fund to provide needed aid to Tuscarawas County’s most vulnerable families and individuals. More than $82,000 was donated by corporate and individual partners throughout the Tuscarawas Valley. UWTC was able to match each donation dollar for dollar, bringing the total fund to more than $160,000.
To date, $67,000 in disbursements have been issued to several local organizations that directly support Tuscarawas County residents during this ongoing global pandemic and beyond.
“We were able to partner with Salvation Army and Tuscarawas County Council for Church and Community to provide rent and utility assistance to dozens of community members,” UWTC President Robin Waltz said.
Other organizations receiving support as part of this ongoing effort include Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Central Ohio (essential item kits for “Littles”), Mobile Meals of Dover-New Philadelphia, HARCATUS (food and supply deliveries to area residents), New Philadelphia Health Department (essential items for quarantined residents), OhioGuidestone (social-emotional services in local schools), Tuscarawas County Health Department (sanitation supplies), Tuscarawas County YMCA (food program), and Tuscarawas County Family and Children First Council (special-needs camp).
“The response from our local community never ceases to amaze us,” Waltz said. “Now in a time of crisis, we have seen Tuscarawas County residents who have never before needed assistance. The additional support provided by the Community Response Fund allows these valuable organizations to relax certain restrictions to help fill the gap and provide immediate need to as many as possible.”
But the efforts of these organizations and others to ensure security and support to people in the Tuscarawas Valley are far from over. UWTC is asking those who can to make a gift by clicking “donate” at www.tuscunitedway.org. Checks can be made to United Way and mailed to 1458 Fifth St. NW, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.
Every dollar donated helps ensure Tuscarawas County residents are never left behind in a time of need.