United Way of Central New Mexico has distributed $1.1 million it raised in emergency COVID-19-related funding to agencies with immediate needs, including for Mission: Graduate, Mission: Families, 211 Information and Referral Line, the Family Advocacy Center, Graduate!ABQ and Tax Help New Mexico.
The grants are to organizations in the four counties UWCNM serves.
“The incredible generosity of central New Mexicans has come at a time when the community’s needs are so critical,” UWCNM President Rodney Prunty said in a statement.
Additionally, UWCNM assisted in the distribution of $229,448 that Sandia National Laboratories raised to aid Native American communities for a variety of basic needs, according to a news release.
UWCNM this past March created the Emergency Action and Feeding Families funds. The action fund was established in partnership with the Albuquerque Community Foundation. Together, they raised $705,313 and disbursed grants to 93 organizations ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for basic needs. Nine organizations were awarded between $25,000 and $50,000 to address access to technology, family stability and education gaps.
Donors Billy and Rachel Gupton and Lynn and Craig Trojahn initiated The Feeding Families Fund: United We Eat to both provide for families and support the restaurants. Some 13 agencies engaged 41 restaurants/food trucks to provide 16,343 meals over several months from the $236,540 in contributions, United Way said in the release.
Other organizations receiving aid include: Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless; Community Wellness Council (Valencia); Domestic Violence Resource Center; HopeWorks; Locker #505 Student’s Clothing Bank; New Mexico Asian Family Center; New Mexico Veterans Integration Centers; NMCAN; Presbyterian Medical Services; Roadrunner Food Bank; St. Felix Pantry; S.A.F.E. House, Seed2Need and Supportive Housing Coalition of New Mexico. For more information, visit uwcnm.org.
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