Special to Iredell Free News
The EnergyUnited Foundation has contributed a $10,000 donation to the Iredell County COVID-19 Response Fund.
The county’s COVID-19 Response Fund was established by United Way of Central Carolinas, United Way of Iredell County and the Iredell County Community Foundation, a regional affiliate of Foundation For The Carolinas to help those most in need through support to service-oriented organizations.
“We are very thankful for our partnership with United Way of Iredell County and for all the leaders, volunteers and front-line workers who represent the best of us each day,” said Debra Citta, EnergyUnited Foundation administrator. “We know that with this donation, we will be able to help many individuals and families who need financial assistance due to COVID-19.”
The initial priority of the Fund is to address the immediate basic human needs of Iredell County residents by deploying resources to trusted organizations that respond to, and are impacted by, the coronavirus outbreak. The Fund will respond to emerging and evolving needs.
The Fund is administered through a partnership among the three organizations. Grants will be awarded by an advisory group of community members and will be open to any agency that meets the eligibility criteria.
Areas of anticipated need include:
♦ Food insecurities, such as home-bound seniors and families with children;
♦ Education interruptions, such as children in early Head-Start through postsecondary;
♦ Employment reductions, such as reduced hours, layoffs and furlough;
♦ Housing vulnerabilities, such as rental assistance and shelters for homeless; and
♦ Medical access, such as transportation or those in need of home-bound supports
“This grant from the EnergyUnited Foundation will make a huge difference in our county’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said United Way of Iredell County Executive Director Brett Eckerman. “We are very thankful for the cooperative’s continued support of our community in times of need.”
The EnergyUnited Foundation is a voluntary, member-funded non-profit organization supported by EnergyUnited’s Operation Round-Up program. Over 70,000 EnergyUnited members choose to participate in the program by ‘rounding up’ their electric bills each month. The maximum monthly contribution for an individual member with one account is 99 cents. Each of these small contributions are pooled together in a single fund managed by the EnergyUnited Foundation to support needy individuals, families, and essential nonprofit organizations that complete an application explaining the reason and purpose for their requested grant.
About EnergyUnited
EnergyUnited Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) is the largest electric cooperative in North Carolina serving more than 130,000 metering points. Headquartered in Statesville, EnergyUnited provides electric service in portions of nineteen counties in west central North Carolina which include Alexander, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stokes, Wilkes and Yadkin. EnergyUnited Propane provides products and services to more than 23,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in 100 counties across Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Visit EnergyUnited online at www.energyunited.com to learn more about our electric and propane businesses.