SALISBURY — Jane Hartness struck up a conversation with her two grandsons this week that resulted in all three of them making a contribution to the COVID-19 Relief Fund.

Hartness, of Salisbury, said her grandsons, Nolan and Carter Earnhardt, both well-aware of the COVID-19 outbreak as the reason why schools are not in session, but after finishing an article about the relief fund this week, they struck up a conversation about how people are affected.

“Some boys’ and girls’ moms and dads don’t have jobs right now,” Hartness recalled saying.

The older of the two, Nolan, 6, started thinking deeply after Hartness talked about the relief fund and responded,  “What if we give them all of our money? What would we do?”

Of course, the boys didn’t need to donate all of the money they had just earned from doing some light cleaning work around the house for their grandparents or what they had previously saved. So, Hartness reminded the two of the Bible story about Jesus’ “Feeding of the 5,000” — a miracle where Jesus used five loaves and two fish to feed thousands.

“You could see the wheels turning, and by the time I finished that, they were both ready to hand their papa their money,” Hartness said. “We were so pleased that they were so into this and that the listened so closely.”

So, when Hartness made out her donation to the COVID-19 Relief Fund this week, she also included a contribution from her grandsons — Nolan, 6, and Carter, 4. The brothers are the sons of Scott Earnhardt and Amanda Hartness Earnhardt.

As of Thursday afternoon, the Relief Fund had raised $50,742 from the public. That’s an increase of $3,600. The United Way also plans to match all local contributions with up to $120,000 of internal funds that it has reallocated to help with the effort. All funds generated by the COVID-19 Relief Fund will go directly to nonprofits who intend to use the money to help local people with food insecurity, medical expenses and housing needs as well as funding for disruptions in business for nonprofits. The United Way is covering all administrative costs associated with the fund.

Anyone interested in making a donation can do so at rowanunitedway.org, text the word “RELIEF” to 704-286-1011 or mail a contribution to the United Way at 131 West Innes St., Suite 201, Salisbury, N.C. 28144. Those mailing donations should address them to the attention of the COVID-19 Relief Fund. Those making a donation online should include a note in the comment section saying it’s for the COVID-19 Relief Fund.

Nonprofits who apply for funding will be able to request up to $10,000. Nonprofits can obtain more information about applying by visiting rowanunitedway.org or calling the office at 704-633-1802.

Donations since the most recent update on Wednesday include:

• John Struzick, $250

• Bill and Laura Thompson, $200

• Edward and Nancy Clement, $200

• Steve and Nancy Schoch, $100

• David Hoyle, $50

• Chemical company Nouryon, which gave $1,500

• Betty Roof, $100

• Laine and Jennifer Byers, $400

• Jimmy and Pamela Whitman, $100

• Kaye Morgan, $100

• Doug and Carolyn Glasgow, $200

• Tomme and Charlene, Gamewell, $200

• Jesse and Kay McCartney, $100

• Betty Brown, $100.