A network designed to help Venango County residents obtain assistance due to the coronavirus pandemic is in place and drawing applicants.
“We opened it on Monday and we’ve had some calls,” said Will Price, executive director of the United Way of Venango County. “We are here to help.”
Price, who with Trenton Moulin of the Bridge Builders Community Foundation launched the COVID-19 Relief Fund last month, is overseeing one major part of the relief fund campaign. Altogether, the two agencies have raised $257,000 to be used specifically for relief efforts due to the virus.
Applications from those organizations are being reviewed by a seven member panel comprised of local residents.
Help for individuals
There is a second component, and Wise and his United Way agency are handling those details. It amounts to about $117,000 that came from five sources – $100,000, Mike and Joyce Hughes; $10,000, UPMC medical staff; $1,000, Moonlight Packaging; $1,000, Franklin Elks; and $5,000, small business and individual gifts.
A portion of that money will go directly to individuals facing financial difficulties as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
It is a first-come, first-serve assistance program that will provide a one-time grant to lower income individuals in Venango County. The money may be used for housing, utilities, food and financial responsibilities.
According to United Way, the hardship must have occurred on, or after, March 1, 2020, and be due to COVID-19. Checks will go to third parties for payment and food assistance will be paid out in the form of vouchers.
“The donors felt that they knew the needs would be there with the small businesses as well as individuals who are front line workers,” said Wise. “They wanted to help the person who never experienced a crisis in their life before and needed help.”
There is a specific way to apply for those grants, said Wise. Applicants must go directly through the county’s 211 system which is a United Way program administered by the county’s human services department.
‘In this together’
For Price and Moulin, the campaign to help agencies as well as individuals has a key goal of stretching the contributions to provide a variety of assistance.
“We are in this together to make sure the donor dollars go the farthest and are not redundant,” said Moulin.
Price said the partnership between United Way and Bridge Builders fits the COVID-19 Relief Fund goals.
“We are working together and both organizations are coming together at a time of crisis to help the residents in our communities,” said Price. We want to make as much of an impact as we can.”
Contributions to the COVID-19 Relief Fund can be made at bbcf.org or unitedwayofvenangocounty.org or by mailing directly to United Way, P.O. Box, 3030, Reno, 16343; or Bridge Builders, 206 Seneca St., Oil City, 16301.
