As communities face the health and financial effects of COVID-19, United Way of North Central Mississippi (UWNCM) is offering assistance to families that are now experiencing financial hardships as a result of the pandemic. Through the COVID-19 Emergency Management Fund, UWNCM will offer financial support to families in need of mortgage, rental, or utility assistance. Paul Luckett, UWNCM Board President stated, "As we were planning as a community how best to protect our most vulnerable, it quickly became apparent that the risk of COVID-19 to families' financial well-being is just as severe as the risk to their health. We established the COVID-19 Emergency Management Fund to help families weather the financial disruption caused by this pandemic." Executive Director, Candy Crecink, views the fund as “a means to continue to empower neighbors to build a strong community that's better for everyone in these pivotal and critical times. It will allow neighbors to walk with neighbors while extending a helping hand. It is a united effort through a United Way."
Among UWNCM’s service region, at least one in five residents lived in poverty prior to COVID-19. Given the economic consequences of this pandemic, these individuals and their neighbors may encounter additional immediate and long-term financial constraints. Residents of Oktibbeha, Choctaw, Webster, and Winston counties who have experienced significant declines in income due to COVID-19 are eligible to apply for assistance through this fund. Individuals will access the application by visiting www.strongneighbor.com/covid-emf-application/. In this process, applicants are required to provide basic household and employment information and demonstrate their financial hardship. UWNCM representatives will request additional documentation from successful applicants to make payments directly to landlords, mortgage companies, or utility service providers.
In developing this assistance fund, local business owners have inquired about ways in which they too could aid families in need. Glo business partners, Hagan Walker (CEO) and Anna Barker (VP of Business Development), understand the value of contributions from local businesses during this time and have committed to matching the COVID-19 Emergency Management Fund up to $5,000.00. “Anna and I feel very strongly about making sure we’re doing our part to take care of our neighbors. Starkville has supported our small business from the beginning and we feel that it’s now our turn to help support Starkville.”
The creation of this assistance fund is yet another endeavor UWNCM has undertaken in response to COVID-19. The organization is currently holding a United We Feed Emergency Food Drive to address food insecurity by replenishing the shelves of local food pantries. Community members interested in contributing to the COVID-19 Emergency Management Fund and the United We Feed Emergency Fund are encouraged to visit www.starkvilleunited.com/join.
Residents in need of other forms of assistance or information may also visit www.strongneighbor.com. This site has been developed to enable individuals to share their needs and ask questions related to COVID-19. Local experts in public health, social services, and business will work with UWNCM representatives to respond to questions and connect residents to appropriate resources. Collaboration is key to living united; it is how we effectively address the diverse needs of neighbors and strengthen the community.
