Greetings!
The COVID-19 Pandemic has created a strange dichotomy for many of us. Shelter in Place (
stay put
) but work and think in new ways (
move fast
). How are you doing? We want to know. Send us an email or engage on our social media.
Our staff and volunteers at United Way Monterey County (UWMC) continue to serve our community, LIVING UNITED but working remotely, I want to share a few updates with you as we close out our second week of the coronavirus crisis in Monterey County.
211 Monterey County
continues with referrals to local services and resources, such as food programs, shelter and housing, senior services, financial assistance, employment support, and mental health and well-being.
Our call volume has been two to three times the normal level, and people are not only needing information on COVID-19 but also help with the many challenges generated by this situation. To help expand the capacity of our 211 call center, we have been piloting a program to provide remote volunteer call handlers. Three staff members from UWMC have successfully completed the training and will soon start answering calls for 211 Monterey County.
We are working closely with child care providers to maintain quality services for children of essential workers. This is critical now and underscores the value of our ongoing work to bolster the capacity and quality of our early care and education system.
Events and Programs
: In light of the Shelter in Place order, we have had to postpone the LIVE UNITED Awards; Spring Spruce Up; and the Emerging Leaders Society's Talking with Tapas. We will be rescheduling as soon as the dust settles.
We have had to temporarily close down our
VITA free tax preparation
sites; however while the sites are closed, we are exploring virtual options for providing the VITA service to our community. In the meantime, we encourage workers to file online using
myfreetaxes.org
or the
IRS.gov/Freefile
resources and to follow United Way Monterey County on
Facebook
or our
website
for the latest updates.
There are many ways you can help financially. Your giving to
United Way Monterey County
will aid our efforts on every front as we work with our partners, care for our hard working families in their hour of greatest need, and emerge stronger than ever.
Let’s all do our part to get through this challenge. Wash your hands, practice social distancing and take care of yourself while you stay connected in new ways to friends, loved ones, and our community.