Physical distancing may prevent us from interacting the way we did a month ago, but it doesn’t mean we need to stop communicating altogether. It’s during moments of hardship like this global health pandemic that incredible individuals and organizations are stepping up to make a difference. Their collective power in supporting community-based organizations is helping families and individuals who are in great need.
At Andar Software, we want to highlight some of the work our customers are doing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Their excellent work might inspire you and spur some ideas of your own.
United Way of Marathon County has set up a COVID-19 Response Fund page, along with a COVID-19 Safe Volunteer site. Amid the emergency response, they have had volumes of people contact them to ask if there is any other way they can help. Many individuals feel helpless due to social distancing restrictions. This outpour of love from the community gave birth to a new idea. United Way of Marathon County created a ‘Thank a Healthcare Worker’ platform online using Andar Software’s survey tool. Within three days of going live with the project, they have received over 450 messages from people in their community wanting to thank front-line healthcare workers. The project is helping people in the community connect and show their love and support. As humans, we crave connection with others. Being there for one another during hardship is one of the many ways that will help us get through this, and this project is helping further the cause.
United Way of Marathon County built a ‘Thank a Healthcare Worker’ web page using Andar Software’s survey tool. The survey form enables community members to send messages of gratitude for front-line healthcare employees in appreciation of all the hard work they are doing.
Working with community partners is an approach many organizations have taken. United Way of Larimer County has partnered with the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado to provide funding help to area nonprofits. One hundred percent of donors’ support is set to go toward the COVID-19 relief and recovery efforts. They are accepting donations via an Andar e-Pledge web page that allows donors to select their investment amount and the type of pledge they would like to make.
The Northern Colorado COVID-19 Response fund was set up by United Way of Larimer County using an Andar e-Pledge donation page. They have shared a link to their pledge page and emphasized that “Together, we will get through this” on their Twitter account.
In partnership with The Post and Courier, Trident United Way launched the Tri-County COVID-19 Response Fund to tackle their community’s needs due to the pandemic. The nonprofit organization has set aside $50,000 in emergency funds, which they will use to match public donations dollar-for-dollar. On their website, Trident United Way shares its long history of leading special funds for disasters such as hurricanes and floods. They reassure their community that, “The Post and Courier and Trident United Way have partnered on several prior relief efforts,” and “all funds will stay in the Tri-County.”
Trident United Way partnered with The Post and Courier to launch the Tri-County COVID-19 Response Fund. Contributions will be used to support basic needs due to the loss of work and financial hardships, to deploy efficient emergency networks, and to service nonprofit partners with the increased volume of assistance requests.
To address local needs, United Way of the Coastal Bend set up a fund page using Andar e-Pledge. All proceeds from the fund will be given to response and relief efforts. Funds will be distributed to support the community and local nonprofit agencies that provide direct services.
In addition to establishing a Community Response Fund that will provide emergency grants to local charitable organizations, United Way Centraide North East Ontario/Nord-est de l’Ontario has put together a wealth of information on their website. The site contains a Resource Directory with links to official health websites and a robust FAQ that addresses Community Response Fund inquiries in a clear and incredibly informative manner.
Emergency grants to local charitable organizations are being supported by United Way Centraide North East Ontario/Nord-est de l’Ontario through their Community Response Fund.
Hear from others in this interview-style webinar.
Webinar panelists are Stephanie Metrie, Manager of Public Relations and Marketing at United Way of Broward County, and Kali Cochran, Director of Investor Relations and Digital Transformation at United Way of Midland County. Both United Ways set up Covid-19 emergency relief fund pages using Andar e-Pledge. Learn what their intent was, what the process was like, and their results in this interview-style webinar.
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An Inland SoCal COVID-19 Fund page was launched as a collaborative fund between United Way of the Inland Valleys and Inland Empire United Way. The fund will support the 211 Riverside and 211 San Bernardino programs, in addition to providing direct relief to residents from both counties. Plus, the United Way of the Inland Valleys continues to support the Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) Nutrition Services program during the “Stay-at-Home” Executive Order. Although schools are closed, RUSD students are able to pick up meals through a drive-through option that respects social distancing practices.
The importance of the 211 program is an area of focus for United Way of the Inland Valleys. On their website, the nonprofit organization shares, “Our top priority is to make important information easily accessible to our community. We know the COVID-19 pandemic has an unprecedented impact on our community, our service provider partners, our staff, the families we serve, and especially our most vulnerable neighbors.” 211 is available twenty-four hours a day, every day, in over 200 languages to provide crucial accurate information to residents about the coronavirus. The program also gives referrals for local services such as where to obtain food and shelter. To offset the increase in 211 call volumes due to the pandemic, United Way of the Inland Valleys has put out an urgent call for volunteers.
Due to an increase in calls to the 211 Riverside County program, the United Way of the Inland Valleys put out an urgent call for volunteers. They are extending their ask to community members who may have time available in their schedules as a result of school, retail store, and restaurant closures.
Heart of Missouri United Way partnered with the City of Columbia, Boone County, and Community Foundation of Central Missouri to launch CoMoHelps.org. The website contains links to resources and their giving page, a Single Page Registration and Pledge Page (SPRP) that helps families and individuals affected by COVID-19. On their fund page, they highlight a very critical point, “While we worry about our own futures, we must not forget the people in our community who are already struggling with the financial effects of COVID-19.” The Heart of Missouri United Way website contains a wealth of information to assist community members with tips on things they can do to fight the coronavirus. On it, they stress that “when you feel the most helpless, you actually have the power to do the most good.” They also remind website visitors to take care of their mental health and combat loneliness from social distancing by calling friends and family. The web page includes links to apply for grant funding, a memo to agency partners, and a COVID-19 funds request for proposal.
"Even in these uncertain times, no one is powerless to make a difference. Small acts, taken together across the country, can change the course of the pandemic, bolster those facing economic challenges, and protect the most vulnerable."
Heart of Missouri United Way
The Heart of Missouri United Way’s COVID-19 Response campaign page reminds us that, “while we worry about our own futures, we must not forget the people in our community who are already struggling with the financial effects of COVID-19.”
Finding the COVID-19 Community Response Fund page is easy for United Way of Lane County website visitors. Within seconds of loading, the home page of the website shows an eye-catching pop up that links to the emergency relief page.
Many nonprofit organizations are doing everything in their power to care for those in need during the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. The examples we have shared above are just some of the great efforts we have come across in the past few days.
These are undoubtedly challenging times, but it’s very evident that communities are pulling together to help confront the COVID-19 outbreak and deliver support where it’s needed. If you need help from Andar Software to set up web pages similar to any of the examples in this blog entry, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. The health and wellbeing of our customers is our highest priority, and we are here to help you.
Learn from others in this interview-style webinar.
Webinar panelists are Stephanie Metrie, Manager of Public Relations and Marketing at United Way of Broward County, and Kali Cochran, Director of Investor Relations and Digital Transformation at United Way of Midland County. Both United Ways set up Covid-19 emergency relief fund pages using Andar e-Pledge. Learn what their intent was, what the process was like, and their results in this interview-style webinar.
Watch Webinar