UNITED WAY

A volunteer hands a food box to United Way Executive Director Ginny Mohrbutter on Sept. 20, 2020, outside the United Way Tar River Region headquarters on Sunset Avenue in Rocky Mount.

The pandemic greatly affected most nonprofit organizations in North Carolina.

With the disruption of programs and services, many organizations feared they would be unable to continue to care for the needs of the populations they serve. However, the United Way Tar River Region worked diligently to “unite people and resources to build a stronger community.”

“COVID-19 has created challenges for many businesses and organizations, and United Way Tar River Region has not been immune to this,” United Way Executive Director Ginny Mohrbutter said.

In response to the pandemic, the United Way Tar River Region addressed the challenges for children, families and individuals by launching the COVID-19 Relief Fund. United Way has been working with nonprofit partners to address urgent needs in feeding, housing, individual/family stability, child care and youth, senior and special populations.

Through an efficient and accountable grants process, United Way COVID-19 Relief Fund poured in over $168,550 into 50 community programs which has positively impacted over 30,758 children and families. The fund has supported homeless shelter/ feeding pantries, financial/rent assistance domestic violence shelter/programming, child care programs, remote learning support and senior citizen meal programs.

As with many nonprofit groups nationwide, fundraising efforts were hindered by the pandemic. The normally fruitful United Way Tar River Region Community Campaign faced a shortfall in its annual fundraising goal. United Way officials adopted new and innovative

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Executive Director Ginny Mohrbutter launches confetti during the kickoff of the United Way Tar River Region’s 2020 fundraising campaign at Davenport Honda in Rocky Mount.

For a nonprofit like United Way, it is not about profit, it is about people.

- Ginny MohrButter, united Way executive director

ideas were implemented to connect with workplace giving campaigns and donors.

“United Way’s Community Campaign funding is the life blood for our organization doing such good work in our community,” Mohrbutter said. “For a nonprofit like United Way, it is not about profit, it is about people. In our case, it is about utilizing donations to help people through vital, local programs that touch all quality-of-life issues. It is about children having educational programs, fragile citizens having housing and food, and people having access to health programs and medications to keep them well.”

The economic fallout of COVID-19 impacted low-wage Americans the hardest, along with people of color and those lacking a college degree. To survive this unprecedented time, people have had to borrow money from friends or gotten food from a food bank. Many adults who lost a job due to the virus are still unemployed.

People in need are encouraged to call 2-1-1 for assistance and resources related to the coronavirus. The NC 2-1-1 program is an information and referral service where families and individuals can obtain free and confidential information on health and human service resources within their community 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The United Way Tar River Region provides funding and support to bring 2-1-1 to Edgecombe and Nash counties.

“NC 2-1-1 is an important resource every day for families in our community who may experience a crisis such as food insecurity or unemployment. During times like this with the COVID-19 crisis, we are proud 2-1-1 is here to help,” Mohrbutter said.

Mohrbutter said the staff at the United Way Tar River Region thank the thousands of donors, as well as the extensive network of volunteers and nonprofit partners who believe in the power of positive change through United Way.

“Even in such a challenging time, (donor) support has helped United Way have tremendous impact in our community. Contributions crossed many sectors and helped thousands of individuals and families during this tumultuous time,” Mohrbutter said.

United Way Tar River Region board Chairman Jonathan Boone echoed that sentiment.

“Although responding to COVID-19 has proven challenging and has negatively impacted our annual fundraising campaign, our community has proven over and over again that we have the capacity to work together in times of need to help our friends and neighbors,” he said. “With that said, I am confident that working together we can find a way to sustain the work of the United Way Tar River Region and many local United Way community partners that are on the front lines working to help our community weather the impact of this pandemic.”