Calls for assistance to Trident United Way’s 211 Resource Line skyrocket
Charleston County food assistance calls went up 818% for last 2 weeks in March
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – New March totals show calls to Trident United Way’s 211 resource phone line have dramatically increased as the COVID-19 crisis continues.
The biggest increase is the most basic need - food assistance calls in Charleston County shot up 818% for the last two weeks in March compared with the first two weeks of the month.
The staggering numbers come out as today the federal government announced a record 6.64 million people filed unemployment claims for the week ending March 28, which far exceeds last week’s federal total of 3.3 million.
Needs are likely to increase as U. S. Treasury officials say it could take up to three weeks for federal assistance from the recently passed stimulus plan to be sent out.
211 call-type increases in last two weeks of March (compared w/first two weeks of March)
|
Needs |
Charleston |
Dorchester |
Berkeley |
|
Food Pantries |
818% |
312% |
182% |
|
Rent Payment Assistance |
258% |
284% |
172% |
The sc.211.org website is a resource to find all types of assistance, customizable by zip code, along with a page dedicated to COVID-19 information and services. You can also download the SC211 app in the Google Play or App Store free of charge.
One way to help is contributing to the Tri-County COVID-19 Response Fund. All funds will stay in the Tri-County. Trident United Way is administering the fund.
Tri-County COVID-19 Response Fund contributions will be used for:
- Basic needs support to address loss of work or other financial hardships
- Deploying efficient emergency networks of agencies with proven on the ground experience
- Support nonprofit partners with the surge of assistance requests and supplement service capacity
Trident United Way is underwriting all costs associated with disbursing 100% of the funds going directly to COVID-19 response and relief efforts to partner organizations. In the unlikely case all funds are not spent, remaining funds will be set aside in a reserve fund for use during future response efforts.
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Celebrating 75 years of service, Trident United Way is a catalyst for measurable community transformation through collective impact in education, financial stability and health. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, United Way is America’s favorite charity.