United Way Of Hays, Caldwell Counties Support Agencies Providing COVID-19 Disaster Relief

San Marcos, TX – Approximately five weeks following the State of Disaster declaration in Texas, United Way of Hays and Caldwell Counties continues its support of relief efforts, directing funds from its Disaster Recovery Fund to partner agencies and other non-profit organizations proving services to residents affected by the Covid-19 crisis.

On Thursday, April 23, United Way distributed  $15,000 to Community Action, Inc of Central Texas to be used for rental assistance, $3,000 to Combined Community Action Meals on Wheels program to assist in distributing meals to senior adults; $2,500 to Greater San Marcos Youth Council to help provide meals and other supplies for the children’s shelter; and $2,000 to the Hays County Food Bank to assist with feeding families throughout Hays County who are facing food insecurity due to this crisis. Additional distribution of funds will be made as dollars from the community are donated.

The United Way of Hays and Caldwell Counties volunteer board of directors re-established their Disaster Recovery Fund on March 18 to benefit partners, agencies, and other organizations that are providing direct assistance to Covid-19 disaster victims throughout Hays and Caldwell Counties.

More than $24,000 has been raised in the month since United Way of Hays and Caldwell Counties re-opened their disaster relief fund.

United Way of Hays and Caldwell Counties is not providing direct funds or grants to local residents, Harper explained. “The funds are being distributed to our long-time partner agencies who have boots on the ground and are most aware of the needs of our community,” she said.

“The board established the fund to provide a transparent, efficient, simple process to direct disaster relief donations directly to relief organizations in the current priority needs of rental and utility assistance as well as food insecurity,” said Harper.

The role of United Way of Hays and Caldwell Counties during this time is to help coordinate efforts among non-profits and reach out to our donors for support to be distributed to local organizations providing direct services.”

Residents wishing to help their fellow community members can visit https://www.unitedwayhaysco.org/covid-19-response or text “UWHAYS DISASTER” to 313131 to make a donation.

Donors then follow the prompts to make a donation. “One hundred percent of these donations will stay in Hays and Caldwell Counties, directly assisting those in need,” Harper explained.

Those wishing to donate by check can do so by sending donations to UWHC, P.O. BOX 1728, San Marcos, TX 78667.

Donors are asked to write “Disaster Recovery Fund” on checks to ensure that donation goes directly to agencies and organizations providing services to flood victims.

For more than three decades, volunteer board members, local partner agencies, and donors of the United Way of Hays and Caldwell Counties have invested and developed programs that address some of our communities’ critical needs.

“We continue to help children graduate, guide families toward financial stability, and create opportunities for people to live healthy, vibrant lives while reducing the demand for social services borne by cities and the county,” Harper said.

For more information on United Way of Hays and Caldwell Counties and its disaster recovery efforts, contact Michelle Harper at 512.353.1420 or michelle.harper@uwhays.org.