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COVID-19

COVID-19 Resources and Assistance

In York County, 32% of households are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed): People who are working hard, but living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to make ends meet. As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve and schools and businesses close, United Way of York County remains committed to serving our neighbors who are especially vulnerable in times of uncertainty.
 
 
Please check back with this page as we continue to add resources for you and your family in these challenging times.
 
Click here for a flyer to share on several aspects of United Way's COVID-19 Response.
 
 
 
York County COVID-19 Response Fund
 
In challenging times like these, collaboration, generosity and community are most needed. That’s why United Way of York County, in partnership with York County Community Foundation (YCCF) and other philanthropic partners, has established the York County COVID-19 Response Fund.
 
In times of need, York Countians step up to support each other. Right now, our community is seeing unprecedented needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By working together, United Way of York County, York County Community Foundation, and generous donors across our community can make sure our neighbors don’t go without food or shelter because of the vast economic impact of this outbreak.
 
 
 
There are nonprofit organizations in York County already working to meet the challenges of providing food and shelter for our most vulnerable community members. With additional funding, they can meet the increased and immediate demand for these services. Donations to the Fund through United Way of York County will support United Way's Partner Agencies who are responding to needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
YOU can help! 100% of your gift will go directly to nonprofit organizations in York County.
 
Join us and make a donation to the York County COVID-19 Response Fund to help your neighbors today!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Grants awarded from York County COVID-19 Response Fund
 
The York County COVID-19 Response Fund awarded its first grants on April 22 in the amount of $186,095, to eight organizations of various sizes that are providing food to people throughout York County, from Red Lion to Hanover and Delta to York:
  • Catholic Harvest Food Pantry
  • Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
  • Community REACH, Inc.
  • Mason Dixon Community Services
  • New Hope Ministries
  • Northeast Neighborhood Association
  • YMCA of York and York County Southern Community Services
  • York County Food Bank
A second round of food grants were awarded from the Response Fund on June 4, to four organizations totaling $34,490:
  • Community REACH, Inc.
  • The Salvation Army of York, PA
  • York Benevolent Association
  • York County Food Bank
The Fund had previously announced May 11 the award of an additional $56,000 in grants to ensure families can stay in their homes as they experience hardship due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis, and announced a second round of grants of $20,000 awarded June 23. We are proud to partner with the following nonprofit organizations in our housing response, which includes crisis budgeting and rental assistance:
  • Community Progress Council
  • New Hope Ministries
  • PA 211
  • The Salvation Army of York

On August 3, the Fund announced a third round of food and housing grants totaling $146,000, awarded to the following organizations:

  • Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
  • York County Food Bank
  • York Benevolent Association
  • The Salvation Army of York
  • CASA
  • Community Progress Council
  • New Hope Ministries

Read more through our latest press release, in English and in Spanish.

These grants will provide critical resources for these nonprofit organizations as they support our most vulnerable neighbors, meeting a double-digit increase in need for emergency food assistance and housing resources. The August 3 grant to Community Progress Council will also assist the organization with the distribution of up to $4.4 million in CARES Rent Relief Program funding, leveraging local support to disseminate critical federal funds to keep families in their homes.

To date, the Fund has raised over $1,038,000 and awarded a total of $443,102 in grants.

 
 
 
Connect to 211
 
The health and human services helpline 211 is a powerful resource to be shared with individuals who may need additional resources for childcare, food, housing and other needs in this challenging time. Anyone can dial 211 or text your zip code to #898-211 to talk with a resource specialist for free.
 
 
Community Resources
 
Our utmost priority is ensuring the safety of all of our community members. With that in mind, there are several resources to consider for updated information as we learn more about COVID-19 and its impact on public health:

The York County Economic Alliance has also created PreparedYork.com, which includes information about reduced-cost meals for students in their communities (Under Childcare & Schools).

As a longstanding partner with organized labor, United Way and 211 have also put together resources specifically for union members.

Families looking for educational resources can download log books for our Reading Challenges and work toward your reading goals!

 

How to Help: Volunteer Opportunities

 
Although many nonprofit organizations have paused their volunteer opportunities due to the Pa. Department of Health's recommendations on social distancing, you can still help support urgent community needs created by the Coronavirus outbreak. If you are healthy and able, get connected!

Browse a full list of remote and virtual volunteer ideas compiled by United Way of York County's Volunteer Center.

You can also connect with specific nonprofit organizations in York County. Please be sure to reach out first to the organization; many organizations cannot take walk-up volunteers or have adjusted their volunteer guidelines in light of social distancing recommendations. Call first!
 
NOTE: Food Bank Volunteers
If you are interested specifically in assisting York County's emergency food network in distributing food to those in need, York County is partnering with the Central Pa. Food Bank, York County Food Bank, and other pantries to assign volunteers where there is the greatest need. Volunteers will pick up and drop off food boxes to people who are homebound, or assist with mass packing and distribution efforts. Sign up online through the Volunteer Center, under EVENTS. Questions? Contact Bryce Kruger at krugerb@unitedway-york.org.
 
York County Volunteer Opportunities
  • American Red Cross South Central Chapter; Learn more at www.redcross.org/volunteer
    Now is a great time to register and begin online training for any of our volunteer opportunities! We have a variety of roles at the Red Cross including disaster response, supporting our military, photography, safety and first aid training, and much more. All of these roles offer training online, as well as in the classroom and in-person. While many are following the guidance of Pennsylvania officials and staying indoors, it’s the perfect time to start your volunteer path with the American Red Cross and begin your training. 
  • Catholic Harvest Food Pantry; Sign up online at www.catholicharvest.org/help or email CHFP@catholicharvest.org.
    Help to prepare food donations for pick-up, or donate items to the food pantry.
  • CONTACT Helpline, Inc.; Contact Kelly Gollick at kgollick@contacthelpline.org.
    CONTACT Helpline helps run 211, a health and human services helpline to connect individuals with resources in the community. This is a non-emergency number. Based on the increase in calls, the organization is looking for volunteers to handle calls. Volunteers can quickly be trained and can take calls from home. To volunteer, you must have a computer, internet and appropriate headsets at home (device to talk while using cloud phones. This can be a gaming headset or even earbuds).
  • LifePath Christian Ministries; Contact Robin Shearer at 717-421-3516 or robin.shearer@att.net.
    LifePath is looking for volunteers interested in joining the team to disinfect the portable toilets set up for the homeless during the time of the coronavirus. Our teams are on a 8 - 10 a.m. and 4 - 7 p.m. schedule, as toilets should be disinfected twice a day. If anyone would like to financially support this effort, they should contact LifePath at 717-845-7662.
  • New Hope Ministries; Sign up online at nhm-pa.org/give-time/, or browse the list of locations online and call the pantry closest to you.
    Help to prepare food donations for pick-up, or donate items to the food pantry.
  • Servants; Email Alisha Crooks at alishacrooks@servants.org.
    Servants is looking for individuals or groups to place calls from home to older adults living in York County, to check on their needs and be a friendly voice.
  • VNA of Hanover and Spring Grove; Contact Cindy Staub at 717-637-1227 or cstaub@vnahanover.org.
    Seeking donations: As a medical provider, our greatest need in this crisis is personal protective equipment, such as masks, gowns, hand sanitizer, and gloves. Some of these items are not available to order or are back-ordered for 4 to 6 weeks, however, there may be other businesses that either have their own stock or have other resources for these vital supplies. 
  • York County Food Bank; Sign up online at yorkfoodbank.org/volunteer, or call 717-846-2435 x202.
    Help to prepare food donations for pick-up, or donate items to the food pantry.
  • York County SPCA; Sign up online at ycspca.org/volunteer-application, or email shunt@ycspa.org.
    Help care for the animals and take them out for play time! Volunteering is by appointment only.

 

Serving Our Community
 
For the protection of our staff and volunteers, and for the health of our community members, United Way of York County staff have moved to remote operations. We will continue to monitor the situation, and resume on-site operations as circumstances allow. 
  • Any meetings currently scheduled in our office or in the Community Room through this time period will either be rescheduled or held via alternative methods.
  • Staff will be accessible via email and will check voicemails regularly. A full staff contact list can be found on our website.
Your support matters in times like these. No matter where we are working, United Way of York County remains committed to serving our community.
 
 
 

 

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