United Way awards $72,200 for COVID relief

United Way of Putnam County recently announced an additional $72,200 in grants from its COVID-19 Community Relief Fund for local agencies making an impact on Putnam County residents.

The latest award announcement brings the United Way’s total COVID-19 relief for Putnam County to $223,900 in the past year.

To date, the United Way has helped more than 9,000 local residents with basic needs, education and health-related support since the beginning of the pandemic.

While much of the support is meant to assist Putnam County’s vulnerable population groups, it is also investing in long-term improvements to the community as well as short-term recovery efforts.

“While we’ve been able to invest a lot into improving lives of families struggling in our community, we are fully aware that many of the challenges and setbacks of our neighbors will continue to limit their potential for the months and years to come,” United Way Executive Director Chris Flegal said. “Our fund is not only helping with the immediate needs of families, but is also thinking about the recovery and long-term solutions to our current challenges. We see this as an opportunity to re-think how local nonprofits impact families in need.”

Recipients of the fifth-round grant funding include:

• $25,000 to Imagination Library;

• $12,700 to EDGE 21;

• $12,000 to Coalition 360 (c/o Family Support Services of West Central Indiana);

• $10,000 to the Putnam County Pantry Coalition;

• $5,000 to Phil the Need;

• $5,000 to the Putnam County Council for the Aging;

• $2,500 to Lakeland Center; and

• $2,000 to the Putnam County Public Library.

Since March 2020, the COVID-19 Community Relief Fund has raised more than $312,000 from individual and corporate donors, including a significant gift of $225,000 from the Lilly Endowment.

For a full list of COVID-19 award recipients or to learn how to donate to the fund, visit www.unitedwayofputnamcounty.org.