United Way of Monroe County Announces Current Donations Top $850,000 and Urges Participation

United Way of Monroe County released the December progress update for its Reimagine 2020 annual community fundraising drive. As of December 18, donations have topped $852,042 to support the work of building resilience as United Way responds to community needs during a pandemic this holiday season.

Reimagine 2020 invites residents in Monroe, Owen, and Greene counties to rally around the goal of building a more resilient community by creating a future that works well for all and where zip code does not determine one’s future. Because of a high level of poverty right here in local communities, where nearly 50% of residents teeter right above or fall below the poverty line, it is critical to address the harsh disparities which often lie hidden in the shadows.
Donors responding to Reimagine 2020 are providing a framework for action in the months and years ahead as the community moves from pandemic relief to recovery and rebuilding. ​

“Though giving has been steady in our fall Reimagine campaign, there is still time – and still a need – to participate.  With the rise in suffering already experienced and with the expected – and unexpected – new challenges that lie before us, more funding is required as we move into the months and years ahead. Our community is very generous and understands that people are hurting, so we encourage everyone to participate and give as your situation will allow. There is still time to give,” Feferman said. Donations will be accepted to Reimagine 2020 through the end of February.

A separate dedicated fund for COVID-19 Relief was established in March 2020 and over $1.6m has been raised and distributed to local organizations. These funds support community-wide needs such as food insecurity and securing safe shelters for people experiencing homelessness, as well as capacity-building needs at agencies such as technology, PPE, increased staffing needs due to volunteer loss, and more.

United Way recognizes these Reimagine 2020 Champions who have raised funds toward a Reimagined future that works for all:

• The Cummins Foundation dramatically increased its gift to help address the most critical needs in Monroe, Owen, and Greene counties and generously contributed $23,135.
• Old National Bank offered its employees an opportunity to make a difference and they generously contributed $12,761 including a corporate gift of $8,000.
• UPS, despite a heavy delivery schedule, found the time and compassion to raise and contribute $17,528 locally.
• The City of Bloomington employees, always generous during campaign season, expressed their concern for our community by contributing $9,196 to Reimagine 2020.

Executive Director, Efrat Feferman, expressed her gratitude for the generosity of the community. “This has been an extraordinary year. I don’t think anyone anticipated we would be in this position at the end of 2020. And yet, despite all the uncertainties, donors have opened their hearts and their wallets in acts of incredible generosity and have asked us over and over to use their gifts to meet the greatest challenges. We are humbled by the trust implicit in these requests and honored to apply each gift to the most critical need.”

All gifts, no matter the amount, have an impact. For instance, a gift to United Way of just $2 a week can provide six meal’s worth of groceries to 50 homebound individuals every month.

Donations can be made online at monroeunitedway.org/givenow or by texting Reimagine2020 to 41444. The big work begins now!

United Way of Monroe County is a nonprofit organization that improves people’s lives by addressing critical needs today and working to reduce those needs tomorrow. Through its Community Action Fund and grant initiatives, United Way works with 24 member agencies and community partners to ensure families have opportunities and everyone can meet basic living needs. For more information, visit www.MonroeUnitedWay.org.