United Way of the Black Hills contributes $100,000 to the UNITED We Stand fund

 

 

4/2/2020

 

Dear Community Members,

 

I am excited to share that this morning, we announced that United Way of the
Black Hills is contributing $100,000 to the UNITED We Stand
COVID-19 Community Response Fund. 

 

In addition, we also announced an exciting partnership between UWBH and
Black Hills Energy. They have offered a dollar-for-dollar match up to
$25,000 for any donations we receive towards our fund.

 

100% of what we raise for the United We Stand Fund will be distributed in
grants open to any nonprofit that is serving the Black Hills community during the pandemic.
Our focus will be on those agencies who are helping to provide basic needs,
mental health, and early education services directly tied to increased needs with COVID-19.

 

United Way staff have been very active over the past three weeks staying in touch with our
local communities to identify the most urgent needs and helping to find resources to help. 

 

  • One of our agencies serves youth in residential services and needed computers so they could access their school work. We were able to find them by reaching out to cabinet members in which Black Hills Energy was able to help. 
  • Child care providers who have been working with our Black Hills Reads efforts
    reached out searching for help and through Kayla’s network she was able to help. 
  • The hospital needs face masks and the Salvation Army received donated material.
    We connected them with our Senior Centers who are coordinating their clients to help sew them.

 

We are also in the process of developing specialized presentations for the nonprofit community covering topics that our partners are asking for. The presentation schedule will be available sometime next week.

 

These are a just a few examples of the work our team is doing every day. There are amazing efforts underway in all of our communities. Times are tough right now but together we will pull through and come out stronger.

 

We have implemented a remote work policy starting this week. If you’d like to reach any of the UW staff feel free to call our cell phones or email.

If anyone reaches out to you seeking services during this time of need please encourage them to visit Helpline 2-1-1.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jamie Toennies

Executive Director

United Way of the Black Hills

 

To make a contribution to the Community Resource Fund, please visit: www.unitedwayblackhills.org/donate and select "COVID-19 Community Response Fund" located in the "Designations" section, or text "BHCovidHelp" to the number 41444.