May 2020
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United Way of the Eastern Panhandle
Awards $52,000 in First Round of
UWEP COVID-19 Recovery Fund Distributions
United Way of the Eastern Panhandle has awarded $52,000 in the first round of UWEP COVID-19 Recovery Fund distributions to local non-profits serving Berkeley, Morgan, and Jefferson Counties. The funding will support recovery efforts for individuals and families experiencing hardship as a result of coronavirus and related closures. This distribution cycle focused on agencies assisting area residents with food, emergency shelter, transportation, medical supplies, utility and housing bills, childcare, and mental health services.

The UWEP COVID-19 Recovery Fund was created to provide flexible resources to agencies in our region working with those who have been disproportionately impacted by the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fund is designed to expand local capacity to address all aspects of the outbreak as efficiently as possible. 

The first round of recipients are:

Berkeley Senior Services
Community Alternatives to Violence
Catholic Charities West Virginia
Community Combined Ministries
Community Networks, Inc.
Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center
Faith Feeding Freedom
Good Shepherd Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers
Jefferson County Community Ministries
Morgan County Partnership
Panhandle Home Health
Voices Against Domestic Violence
WV Coalition to End Homelessness
In addition, funds have been used to support 2-1-1 and the Regional Resource Connection (RRC). 2-1-1 is an information and referral helpline that connects people to essential health and human services. The Regional Resource Connection is a partnership between the Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR), Telamon, and United Way of the Eastern Panhandle. The RRC  links people to social and community services and coordinates efforts to provide households with assistance when state or federal aid is not available or insufficient. 
Additional funding will be awarded on a rolling basis to quickly respond to urgent and evolving needs, as funds are available. Organizations in Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan counties that directly support local residents and families who are most affected by the health, economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible to apply for grants through the fund. Agencies interested in applying for funding should visit uwayep.org/covid19fund to complete the application.

Anyone interested in making a donation to the Recovery Fund can donate now at  uwayep.org/covid-19 , text COVID19UWEP to 41444, or mail a contribution to United Way of the Eastern Panhandle at 24 District Way, Suite 201, Martinsburg, WV 25404. Those mailing donations should address them to the attention of the UWEP COVID-19 Recovery Fund. 
 
All donations to the Recovery Fund will quickly be disbursed to local nonprofits to assist individuals and families during this time of crisis. There are no administrative fees assessed to the Recovery Fund. One hundred percent of all donations will support those in need. 
Thank you to the following for making
the UWEP COVID-19 Recovery Fund possible:

Bernard McDonough Foundation
Ecolab
Erie Insurance
Highmark Foundation
Philanthropy WV
The P&G Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Toyota
Truist Financial Corporation
United Bank
West Virginia American Water
Many Generous Individual Donors
Organizations that have Requested to Remain Anonymous