April 2, 2020 | Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
By Matt Dotray
Lubbock’s emergency response fund created to help individuals amid the current public health crisis has so far received a total of $1.34 million in donations, from 106 different donors.
The Lubbock Area United Way and the Community Foundation of West Texas announced the creation of the emergency South Plains COVID-19 Response Fund last week. The Response Fund is intended to rapidly deploy resources to community-based organizations who are tackling the effects of the coronavirus outbreak in the region.
Members of United Way said $1,346,718 had been donated by 1 p.m. on Thursday.
People can donate online at cfwtx.salsalabs.org/spneighbors or at the register at any Market Street, United Supermarkets or Amigos location in Lubbock, Levelland, Post, Plainview and Slaton.
The goal of the Response Fund is to provide flexible resources to nonprofits working with local communities that are disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus, said Glenn Cochran, president of the Lubbock Area United Way, during a press conference last week.
Nonprofits with “deep roots in the community and strong experience working with vulnerable populations” are encouraged to apply to receive funds.
A committee will be created with six members from the boards overseeing the Community Foundation and United Way to oversee where the funds get distributed.
The committee is expected to receive the first batch of grant requests on Friday of this week, and meet via teleconference early next week to review the grant requests.
The South Plains COVID-19 Response Fund expects to start writing checks next week.
“As of last night, over 20 grant requests have come in and are of significant value to address the issues of the COVID-19 event,” wrote Steve Warren, president of the Community Foundation of West Texas. “The next cycle will begin immediately after and we will repeat.”
This is an ongoing campaign of fundraising and grant distribution, meaning donors can contribute and charities can request funds any time.
“The cut-off will be when the COVID-19 issue is no longer a public issue,” Warren continued.
A news release sent on Thursday said Lubbock’s banking community has pooled its resources to commit $343,000 in support of organizations affected by COVID-19
“In a time when it’s rare for the public to see any sort of unity at the national level, we have a unique opportunity to show our community that we are better and stronger than that,” Warren said on Thursday. “Our local banks have shown us that it is possible to work together for the common good of our citizens. We truly are all in this together, and we are grateful for the leadership the banking community has shown.”