United Way Launching Local Covid-19 Fund

United Way of the Mark Twain Area has released the following message.

The United Way of the Mark Twain Area knows that some of the area’s most vulnerable individuals are at risk and having to make changes due to COVID-19. United Way is launching the COVID-19 Response Fund to assist partner organizations better serve clients.

Local senior center partners including Heartland Resources in Lewis County, Monroe City Senior Nutrition Center, Palmyra Nutrition Center, Paris Senior Center, and the Shelby County Senior Citizens are all having to change the way they serve their clients. Over the weeks to come, many of these centers are not allowing individuals to dine in at their centers to protect these populations from COVID-19. Clients will have meals delivered to their doors with extra precautionary measures in place.

United Way is here to help. United Way is assembling COVID-19 Response Kits for the 300 clients who have meals delivered to their homes. These Response Kits will include some shelf staples, paper products, toiletries, etc. It is dangerous for seniors to risk exposure to COVID-19 by going into public settings to pick up these products themselves. 

The United Way COVID-19 Response Fund will assist with the funding for this project and others that will be needed as this situation continues to develop. Due to the risk of exposure to the virus that could be transmitted on items, only monetary donations are being accepted at this time.

To make a donation to the COVID-19 Response Fund, please visit http://unitedwaymta.org, send donations by mail to PO Box 81, Hannibal, MO 63401 specially marked for the COVID-19 Response, or make a donation through the United Way of the Mark Twain Area Facebook page.

These funds will only be utilized to assist individuals in the United Way of the Mark Twain Area (Lewis, Marion, Monroe, Ralls, and Shelby Counties).

The United Way of the Mark Twain Area works towards the mission, “to increase the capacity of people to care for one another.” This is done by creating opportunities for individuals to give of their time, talents, and treasures to local organizations that work to empower all individuals to achieve their potential through education, financial stability, and healthy lives.