UWNEMN expanding COVID-19
outreach
Plans to provide financial
assistance to individuals
CHISHOLM – United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN) has
raised just over $90,000 so far for its COVID-19 Crisis Fund on the Iron Range,
and the organization is ready to start putting those funds to work in the
region.
UWNEMN had intended for funds
raised to support local partner agencies that provide critical services and
programs like Buddy Backpacks and United for Veterans, but the fund’s purpose
has expanded to include assistance to individuals as well.
“Because of our experience
distributing funds to individuals and families in need due to previous mass
layoffs within the mining industry and our current United for Veterans Crisis
Fund, we feel that we are the organization best suited in the region to provide
this critically needed support,” said UWNEMN Executive Director Shelley
Valentini.
The application for individuals
to apply for up to $1,000 of financial assistance for basic living expenses
opens today. The application and distribution process is similar to other
crisis funds UWNEMN has operated:
Individuals will create online
accounts at
www.unitedwaynemn.org/covid-19-assistance-individuals
to apply for assistance with their basic living expenses. They will be asked to
provide documentation of the expenses as well as other financial documentation.
UWNEMN will review applications, and if an application is approved, UWNEMN will
directly pay the bills submitted for assistance; funds will not be distributed
directly to individuals.
In order to qualify for
assistance, individuals must live within UWNEMN’s service territory and must
demonstrate a financial loss due to unemployment or reduction of hours on or
after the Governor’s Emergency Executive Order dated March 13, 2020.
Careful consideration has been
made to ensure that small business owners and employees, including service
industry workers, who may not be receiving help from other sources are able to
apply for UWNEMN COVID-19 Crisis Funds.
“We know there are some people
in our region who have not been able to work for weeks without receiving much
needed assistance,” Valentini said. “We encourage those individuals to apply
for funding and call us with any questions if they find barriers in the
application process.”
UWNEMN COVID-19 Crisis Funds
will not be available to individuals who were not working prior to the pandemicor have other
support systems in place. Instead, UWNEMN will continue to partner with local
agencies to makereferrals and work with individuals on a case-by case
basis. In addition, individuals in need of assistance areencouraged to
dial 2-1-1 to connect with United Way’s 24-hour helpline in Minnesota or tovisit
www.unitedwaynemn.org/covid-19-resources
for a list of local resources.
Valentini anticipates the need
for individual assistance in our region will be high and estimates UWNEMN will
need to raise closer to $200,000 on the Iron Range to make an effective
difference for individuals, agencies, and programs in our region.
“We are so grateful to all the
people, companies, organizations, and foundations that have helped us grow our
fund,” she said. “But we know we have a lot of work left to do.”
To
date, donations have been committed by the Northland Foundation, Twin Metals
MN, Minnesota Power Foundation, Wells Fargo Foundation, Virginia Community
Foundation, Chisholm Community Foundation, anonymous donors, and many
individuals. In addition, the Dwight and Lorraine Jamar Foundation is currently
offering to match Iron Range donations to the crisis fund up to $10,000.
UWNEMN also serves Koochiching
County, with funds raised in that service territory remaining there. A separate UWNEMN Koochiching County COVID-19
Crisis Fund is being generated to assist individuals in that region. The
application for Koochiching County residents will be forthcoming, once a pool
of funds is built up.
Both funds are special crisis
fund with no administrative costs associated, so 100% of funds received by
UWNEMN will go directly to local agencies, programs, and individuals in the
regions they were raised.
To donate to the
UWNEMN COVID-19 Crisis Fund, visit:
https://give.unitedwaynemn.org/covid-19-crisis-fund
.
Donations can also be mailed directly to 608 East Drive, Chisholm, MN 55719.
Donors can specify which region their donation should be designated to online
or in the memo of their check.
