United Way COVID-19 Response Ideas

I work at HyVee in the online shopping department. We have received many calls from seniors wanting to place an order for groceries over the phone. Our company only takes orders placed online. I hate telling people I can't help them get their food and that I do not know of anyone who can. Sometimes I even get it myself after work. I have looked into starting a business just to take phone orders but found that the task... more »

Adults who are unfamiliar with, or lack access to, technology are not able to connect with many safety net and supportive services. Many individuals are motivated to learn, but cannot connect with help, because they do not know how to engage with computers, or lack access to the internet.

Individuals with vision impairment cannot connect with resources via technology, as their in-person help is limited due to pandemic... more »

School district plans for back to school can be very complex and will change as situations develop in our communities. Support is needed for families who do not speak English as a first language, to ensure they can read plans and ask questions in their native language. Especially those who have school-aged children can experience significant challenges in working during the day when school plans include hybrid or distance... more »

Very hard to find people who want to caregivers?aides?attendants for people with disabilities. This service is reimbursed through Medicaid. That limits what we can pay. With an increase of minimum wage headed our way and no state funding increases these services is in jeopardy.

Lock-down and self-isolation has led to a steep increase in people using alcohol and drugs. The increased gun violence has a connection to the drug and alcohol problem. Patients in need of help have no resources. Sadly, many treatment centers and clinics treating patients have cut down their services and/or patients are hard-pressed to reach the few clinics providing treatment.

We are seeing increased incidence of drug... more »

The pandemic has heightened demand and reduced availability of affordable local childcare options. Barriers: cost, more limited opening hours, lack of transportation, lack of support to apply for state voucher support (in MA) by traditional school Extended Day program, unclear where there is local availability.

There's simply not enough being done to support our children and family structure during this pandemic. More should and need to be done to support our school age children, especially those who have academic challenges. It's understood that this is a valid concern but little is actually being done to bridge gaps. More needs to be done in supporting family structure. The expectations throughout this pandemic, has been unrealistic... more »