FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UNITED WAY OF GREATER UNION COUNTY ESTABLISHES UWGUC COVID19 EMERGENCY FUND TO ASSIST STRUGGLING UNION COUNTY RESIDENTS FINANCIALLY IMPACTED BY THE OUTBREAK
The fund seeks to assist families who are out of work or, who are working less hours due to government mandated closures of businesses and schools.
UNION COUNTY, NEW JERSEY- MARCH 16, 2020 - As local government mandate more closures in an effort to contain COVID19 also known as the Coronavirus, United Way of Greater Union County has set up the UWGUC COVID19 Emergency Fund in an effort to help individuals financially impacted by the virus due to loss of wages or who incurred debt as a result of COVID19.
“There are thousands in Union County living paycheck to paycheck and are just one away from hunger and homelessness. said, James W. Horne, Jr. President & CEO, United Way of Greater Union County. Currently, there are over 57,000 people residing in Union County including 11,000 children, 865 people in South Plainfield and 1,728 people in North Plainfield living below the federal poverty line.
“Emergency funding is crucial in ensuring that our community members with limited resources, or those who are not working (or those who have lost their jobs due to the COVID19 outbreak), can keep food on the table, their lights on, and pay their housing costs. We are grateful to the United Way of Greater Union County for their support in helping our County in these unsettling times. ” Said, Aneesha Ghaly, Executive Director at Rahway Community Action Organization
The UWGUC COVID19 Emergency Fund will assist individuals disproportionately affected by the Coronavirus primarily in underserved and economically disadvantaged communities who:
- are in a financial crisis due to loss of employment or reduced work hours
- did not have benefits or resources to weather the crisis
- incurred other debt related to COVID19 (i.e. childcare expenses because schools are closed)
- are low-income, hourly wage earners, individuals without employer benefits such as paid time off
United Way of Greater Union County has also established an Advisory Committee who will provide oversight to ensure that funds raised will be allocated appropriately.
Donations to the UWGUC COVID19 Emergency Fund can be made online at uwguc.org/covid19. For more information, please call 908.353.7171.
About United Way of Greater Union County
United Way of Greater Union County fights for the health, education, financial stability and family strengthening of every person in Union County, NJ. We provide critical resources to children and families supporting 39 nonprofit organizations and funding 5 programs. For nearly a century, United Way of Greater Union County has proven to be a pre-eminent community based leader, partner and investment choice in these communities.
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