In response to the coronavirus pandemic and the proclamation by the County of San Joaquin of a Local Health Emergency, United Way of San Joaquin and Community Foundation of San Joaquin have launched a COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund seeded by $75,000. The new fund is intended to address the immediate and longer-term needs of the region, with an immediate focus on support and coordination of countywide nonprofits at the frontline of local community relief efforts and serving San Joaquin County’s most vulnerable populations.

“Our joint fund partnership between United Way of San Joaquin County and Community Foundation of San Joaquin is a critical step in helping county wide nonprofits who are supporting our homeless shelters, families experiencing a loss of income due to shelter in place, students impacted by school closures and child care centers or seniors who have limited ability to access food sources,” stated Kristen Birtwhistle, United Way of San Joaquin’s CEO/President.

“Our ability to pull together as one is a strength of our communities,” stressed Moses Zapien, CEO/President of Community Foundation of San Joaquin.

Both the Foundation and United Way are ready to harness their charitable resources and network donors to help mitigate the local effects of COVID-19.

“Our collective spirit during this unprecedented crisis is essential for our ability to help every human being, every household,” Zapien added.

For more information, visit unitedwaysjc.org and cfosj.org for the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. Donation requests can be of any size. Donations can also be made to Community Foundation of San Joaquin at cfosj.org or to United Way by texting COVID19 to 40403.