United Way of Southwest Georgia's Response to COVID-19
As COVID-19 (Coronavirus) continues to spread in the U.S. and across the globe, please know that United Way of Southwest Georgia is here for our communitities. Our number one concern is the safety of our team, our local United Way partner agencies, families, and the communities we all serve.
We are staying on top of local, national, and international guidelines (including the CDC and WHO) to tailor our response as the situation changes. We understand our critical role in coordinating response. Official, up-to-date, and practical information on the COVID-19 outbreak can be found on dedicated pages maintained by the CDC and the Georgia Department of Public Health; you can also find a practical five-minute overview in this to-the-point video that’s ideal for sharing.
We also want to provide you with the most up-to-date resources and programs from our partner agencies, school system and more. This page will be updated routinely with the most up-to-date information.
If you have any new programming updates, please email Cindy Wisham at cindy.wisham@unitedwayswga.org. We are updating our 211 database daily with new resources and programs in response to COVID-19. Please call 211or 888-6126 to get connected with resources.
2-1-1: Get Help. Get Connected
Individuals and families impacted and in need of support can call 211 or 229-888-6126 to get quickly connected to local agencies that provide: food, housing, and utility assistance; heath and medical needs, and aging services and many more. Our 2-1-1 team is on the front line and continues to answer calls daily. For non-emergency calls only.
COVID-19 Community Relief Fund
A COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund has been established for our communities. Over the next couple of weeks, we will carefully consider the needs of our community and support local nonprofits that are responding to individuals facing loss of income due to business closures. Learn more and make a donation today: www.unitedwayswga.org/give
Emergency Volunteer Opportunities
United Way is monitoring the needs of our community to organize volunteers and coordinate volunteer opportunities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the most timely and safe manner possible. If you are interested in learning about emergency volunteer opportunities that may arise in the near future, please contact cindywisham@unitedwayswga.org.
Urgent Need: Neighbors Helping Neighbors Program
Neighbors Helping Neighbors is a mutual aid program that brings together partners and volunteers in an effort to provide solutions and support to those in need. Screened volunteers will be matched with a medically fragile and/or homebound individual to deliver essential groceries and/or products to their doorstep. More info at: www.unitedwayswga.org/neighbors-mutual-aid-program.
Request Volunteers
If your agency is in need of emergency volunteers, please contact Kiandre Stevens at kiandre.stevens@unitedwayswga.org to learn how to post your opportunities on our website and social media platforms.
Partner Agency Support
We continue to foster dialogue between our partner agencies through weekly webinars to share updates and resources every Monday from 3-4 pm. Many of them are open for business as usual, and those that are closed are looking at innovative approaches to meet other community needs. Please find partner agency resources and updates at: https://www.unitedwayswga.org/partner-agency-resources-updates.
Please adhere to all CDC, Georgia Department of Public Health, and local government protocol regarding social distancing, cleaning and health measures.
United Way of Southwest Georgia will continue to provide resources, updates, and recommendations as they become available. As always, please reach out to us if we can be of help to you.