The past year has been an exceptionally difficult one for our community and all of Southwest Florida. Our United Way has taken more than 8,300 calls to our 2-1-1 emergency hotline, with requests for help with access to medical and psychiatric care at an all-time high. Even those who did not call for help with a mental health problem were clearly suffering. Among the nearly 30% of callers seeking housing assistance, the extreme stress of not being able to pay their rent or mortgage was compounded by the stress of not finding work or childcare when a job became vacant . Social distancing and isolation, while important to maintaining public health, also shaped the well-being of individuals and families trying to navigate the uncharted waters of a deep recession during a deadly pandemic.
Fortunately, as before, our community responded to the crisis with generosity, and our United Way has been able to transform that generosity into helping those in need.
Working with nonprofit and government agencies in our area, we’ve provided millions of dollars to thousands of people in need. Our partnership with the Collier County Government, Salvation Army, and HELP kept more than 1,100 residents in their homes by providing more than $ 7.2 million in housing assistance. Our leadership of the Emergency Food and Shelter Prevention Fund distributed more than $ 350,000 to ten nonprofits providing food and shelter to those in need in Collier County, and our Rapid Response Fund, administered by Catholic charities, contributed $ 25,000 Dollars in aid to residents in dire situations, the immediate financial help they need. Working with the Chicago nonprofit wish list, we’ve also distributed hundreds of blankets, sheets, comforters, mattresses, towels, and clothing to people who will be rebuilding their homes after eviction.
To help our community continue to recover, we have built on our longstanding partnerships and worked with other community leaders and organizations. These include Blue Zones Project, Healthcare Network, David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health, NCH Healthcare System, Sunshine Ace Hardware, Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, Local iQ, and CRG Leadership Institute. By visiting ResilientSWFL.com, users can use the RealAge assessment tool to identify their health needs and then go through the other tools and resources on the website to support those needs. There is support for mental health, general health and wellbeing, nutritional and financial issues, and business needs. There is also help with accessing a full range of human resources services by contacting our United Way at 2-1-1. Whether you need an encouraging word (see videos on the home page) or in-depth help, Resilient SWFL is an online wellbeing toolkit to help.
We are incredibly grateful to the donors and partners who made it possible for us to help during this difficult time. But there is still a lot to be done. Resilient Southwest Florida is an essential resource for those still trying to make the transition from surviving a global health emergency to succeeding in the next chapter of our community.
Steve Sanderson is President and CEO of United Way of Collier and the Keys.
See similar https://www.naplesnews.com/story/opinion/2021/06/27/resilient-southwest-florida-vital-resource-united-way-pandemic-steve-sanderson/5309026001/
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from Daily Florida Press https://dailyfloridapress.com/resilient-vital-resource-in-southwest-florida-is-united-by-the-steve-sanderson-pandemic/
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