COVID-19 Relief Fund tops $77,000 raised

Published 12:10 am Tuesday, April 21, 2020

SALISBURY — The Rowan County United Way’s COVID-19 Relief Fund has raised $77,267 to date to help people with food insecurity, medical expenses and housing needs as well as funding for disruptions in business at nonprofits.

That total includes $4,215 from 30 donations since the last update on Sunday. The United Way also plans to match contributions from the public with up to $120,000 in internal funds that have been reallocated for the relief 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.

City Councilman David Post, a member of the Salisbury Rotary Club, issued a challenge to his fellow rotarians in an email on Monday, encouraging all of them to “do your best to donate something.”

“None of us are hungry. All of us have a home. Most of us (I hope) still have jobs and an income and some savings,” Post wrote, saying his request was not for people who had already given.

The United Way last week distributed $40,184 to five nonprofits, including Main Street Mission, the Salvation Army, Rowan Helping Ministries, Meals on Wheels and the Rufty-Holmes Senior Center. It plans to have multiple funding rounds. Nonprofits can obtain more information about applying by visiting rowanunitedway.org or calling the office at 704-633-1802.

Donations to the COVID-19 Relief Fund since the previous update are as follows:

• Gail Carter, $50
• Jo Anne Poplin, $50
• Bill and Cindy Noell, $100
• Bob and Beth Foreman, $100
• Vickie Olsen, $50
• Susan Barnhardt, $40
• Susan Sember, $200
• Dana and Janice Samuelson, $100
• Barbara Brewer, $100
• Jo Ann Smith, $100
• Martha Owens, $100
• Nelson and Rosemary Bradshaw, $100
• Eleanor Sandifer, $100
• Carolyn Alexander, $100
• Jimmy Kepley, $100
• Sally Helms, $200
• Norma Honeycutt, $100
• Audrey Smith, $200
• Joyce Sifford Ervin, $100
• Keyth Kars and Elaine Spalding, $500
• Dean and Joan Earle, $100
• Dewey and Carolyn Peck, $100
• Glenn and Sue Wall, $100
• Zollie Sullivan, $50
• Anonymous, $100
• Anonymous, $75
• Anonymous, $400
• Anonymous, $600
• Phillip Matena, $100