NEWS RELEASE - UNITED WAY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY DISTRIBUTES $26,650 IN EMERGENCY GRANT REQUESTS

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For Release: IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jessica Myers, Marketing and CEC Director, 419-782-3510, jessica@unitedwaydefiance.org

UNITED WAY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY DISTRIBUTES $26,650 IN EMERGENCY GRANT REQUESTS

Defiance, Ohio (April 28, 2020) – United Way of Defiance County has announced that it will distribute $26,650 in additional emergency grant requests from its United Way of Defiance County COVID-19 Emergency Fund in partnership with the Defiance Area Foundation.  

The Emergency Relief Fund Advisory Committee met for a second time via Zoom to approve an additional nine agencies to receive grants in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Defiance Dream Center, Defiance Post Office, Hebron Ministries, House of Ruth, Ravens Care, St. Mary’s St. Vincent De Paul, Temple of Praise, and Zion’s Lutheran Church will each be receiving funding to assist in their efforts of serving our community during the pandemic.

“Starting March 17th through April 14th, the St. Paul's UMC Food Pantry served 450 families in Defiance County a 4 to 5-day supply of food. This includes meat, peanut butter, eggs, canned fruit, canned vegetables, cereal, bread and juice. This grant will help us to continue to feed the families and seniors who need help securing food,” explained Marie Ferree from the St. Paul United Methodist Church Food Pantry.

These agencies all work to provide for our community’s highest and greatest current needs, specifically increased access to emergency food and basic supplies, rent and mortgage assistance, utility assistance, and direct financial assistance for household supplies.

To date, the fund has collected $80,970.00 through generous donations, with $50,500 distributed back into the Defiance County community. Find a full list of community partners of the United Way of Defiance County COVID-19 Emergency Fund at https://www.unitedwaydefiance.org/covid-19-emergency-fund-community-partners.

Donations are still being accepted via credit card at www.unitedwaydefiance.org/COVIDfund or by check payable to United Way of Defiance County, memo: “COVID fund”, 608 Clinton Street, Defiance, Ohio 43512. Donations to the United Way of Defiance County COVID-19 Emergency Fund qualify for the most recent tax deduction in which taxpayer receive an above-the-line deduction for up to $300 in charitable donation.

For questions about the United Way of Defiance County COVID-19 Emergency Fund, please call United Way of Defiance County at 419-782-3510 or email carrie@unitedwaydefiance.org or jessica@unitedwaydefiance.org