Every New Year, there is a sense of infinite possibilities. For us, we know that 2020 was a year that was more about survival. Too many in our immediate community and United Way family have had hardships brought about by the pandemic. We hoped after the first wave last spring that we would not experience another wave, but now it seems that everyone knows someone who’s ill.
But it’s not just illness that’s a concern. Too many people have seen the businesses they work for close or cut employees. Too many business owners are struggling just to keep the doors open. We know that now, more than ever, it’s important to have resources available to help those experiencing a crisis, perhaps for the first time.
Our United Way 2-1-1 Call Specialists are available to help 24 hours every day. Yes, United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline is open 24/7/365 and is confidential and offers multilingual help. People like Jason, who’s profiled on the backpage of the newsletter, found help through one call to 2-1-1. Since March of 2020, 2-1-1 has received 15,674 calls related to COVID-19. On January 21, Lini Jacob, Senior Vice President, 2-1-1 Hudson Valley, will give a presentation during our free, virtual Nonprofit Training Series, “A Community United.” Please join us.
I encourage everyone to sign up for our Equity Challenge, take some time to volunteer and also reach out with any questions or concerns. I’d also like to express a special thank you to all our essential workers. Take care and stay healthy in this New Year!
Best!
Jeannie Montano
jmontano@uwdor.org