How to sum up the impact of COVID-19?
People who received help tell it all.
"Y’all are a blessing to us,” said one woman in need of food assistance.
“Your grant of $20,000 will provide emergency payments of past due rent and utilities for a minimum of 40 households,” reported the Humanities Foundation.
COVID-19 forced many Tri-County residents out of their jobs and quickly sent them into survival mode. For the first time in their lives, many people relied on food pantries to find a meal. COVID-19 pushed others to the brink of homelessness.
COVID-19 also brought out the best in our community. Trident United Way’s COVID-19 Response Fund set a record for most funds raised for any single event in our 76-year history. Thanks to you, our COVID-19 Response Fund raised $511,884, helping fund 25 partner organizations in 11 phases.
Trident United Way also matched the first $50,000.
The previous record for a single emergency relief fund was in October 2015 for “1,000-year flood.” Over a four-day period, some parts of the Charleston area reported more than 2 feet of rain. Trident United Way raised $401,000 for response efforts.
Your support has meant a meal and a roof over the heads of many who would have otherwise been forced into homelessness. The stories of gratitude tell it all.
From partner agency East Cooper Community Outreach: A woman named Isabel worked at a restaurant until mid-March. She received a lifeline of financial assistance, to which she said, “I’ve never experienced this type of situation before and pray it will get back to normal working status soon, I appreciate your help."
Helping Hands in Goose Creek saw a massive increase in need. “We had a record-breaking month in April with 303 families served, compared with 171 for April 2019,” said executive director Jennifer Jones. “For all of 2019, we only went over 200 once, in November. For 2020 so far, we have been over 200 every month.”
Clients and grantee agencies sum up how our community comes together in times of need.
“I have not experienced so many happy tears - tears of relief,” reports East Cooper Community Outreach.
“All of our customers are so appreciative that we are able to provide them with food and hygiene items,” said Helping Hands’ Jennifer Jones.
For those blindsided by COVID-19, trying to get by, the work of donors and agencies who are pushing forward is greatly appreciated.
“This is an answered prayer. Please know that the work you are doing is helping people who are trying so, so hard to make a life for themselves,” said a Trident United Way Berkeley County Resource Center client.
These quotes of relief and humanity are all because of generous donors like you. The economic pain of COVID-19 will likely continue through 2021, so your support is needed now more than ever.
