I hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy. It’s hard to believe we are headed into our 4th week of virtual engagement and social distancing—our new normal. It feels like a lifetime ago that the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Dane County.

In March, United Way led a COVID-19 community “needs assessment,” calling on dozens of stakeholders to see what issues our community was facing during this crisis: income loss, housing and food insecurity, obstacles to childcare and sustaining agency operations. Meantime, thousands of people have been calling into United Way’s 211 information and referral service to report their needs and ask for assistance in real time.

Meeting our community’s needs, along with providing up-to-date information, drives our mission to achieve measurable results and change lives 24/7, 365 days a year.

As of last Friday, United Way of Dane County has received nearly 100 applications for grants through our Dane County COVID-19 Emergency & Recovery Fund. The total dollars requested exceeds $3.4 million. The next step is for our committee of volunteers to review applications and make those tough decisions. We will announce the list of grantees the week of April 20. Meantime, please donate so we can gather more resources for families during this crisis.

As I reflect, I am reminded of the humbling role United Way serves in our community: to frame issues, mobilize community resources and hold ourselves accountable for results. We are grateful to community members and organizations for generously responding to our call for support during this challenging time. I’m proud that we have been able to come together and show The Power of Many. Working for All.

Please read on to learn more about the resources available to our community during this time and share with your networks.

With gratitude,

Renee Moe
President & CEO

Click here to donate to the Dane County COVID-19 Emergency & Recovery Fund

COVID-19 RELIEF RESOURCES

Our United Way 211 staff recently took a call from a woman who lives far from her elderly mother and wanted to make sure she had access to food. Her mom isn’t very proactive when it comes to making meals, and the woman was worried she would go hungry since she can’t leave the house. 211 staff connected the woman with Meals On Wheels and grocery delivery options in our area, and she left the call feeling very hopeful.

This is just one of the hundreds of calls our 211 staff are receiving each day during the COVID-19 crisis. See one example below. If you or anyone you know needs help, call 211. United Way of Dane County is ready to help you.

Click here to learn more about our resources

During this COVID-19 crisis, we need your help more than ever to ensure the well-being of our neighbors.

We are following best practices to ensure the safety of all volunteer opportunities posted on VolunteerYourTime.org, including offering remote volunteer opportunities. These opportunities have been carefully vetted to ensure the safety of both you and those with whom you interact.

Click here to volunteer!

Need help paying for your health insurance during these difficult times? HealthConnect can help. United Way of Dane County HealthConnect, in partnership with UW Health and Quartz Health Solutions, Inc., is a free program that pays health insurance premiums for qualifying Dane County residents.

HealthConnect has helped me put some of my financial worries aside and concentrate on a living a happier lifestyle. I’m now able to pay off my debt and see my doctor on a regular basis to help with my family history of heart disease.
– 2019 HealthConnect Enrollee

Click here to learn more about eligibility for HealthConnect
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