March 27, 2020 | KCBD
LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - - The Lubbock Banking Community has committed more than $280,000 to the South Plains COVID-19 Response Fund.
The announcement came in a press release Friday.
Community Foundation Board Chair Greg Freeman said, “We are incredibly grateful to the banks for their gifts to the Response Fund. The way the banks have pulled together to do this as one is unprecedented, but these are times that call for us to break our precedents in order to help our neighbors. Our local banks are leading the way and showing us all how to be good neighbors.”
The Community Foundation of West Texas and Lubbock Area United Way and City of Lubbock officials held a joint news conference to announce a new partnership in the response to the COVID-19 crisis on the South Plains.
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.
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. (Source: Lubbock United Way)
City leaders have recognized many of our neighbors are in need right now. To help meet these needs, the Community Foundation of West Texas and Lubbock Area United Way are joining together to address the deployment of resources to community-based organizations tackling the effects of the coronavirus outbreak in the region.
Rapid response operating grants will help fund human services organizations that have deep roots in the community and strong experience working with vulnerable populations. By supporting these organizations, we will ensure our neighbors receive the help they need whenever possible.
Lubbock Mayor Dan Pope told KCBD NewsChannel 11 in a Thursday night interview, “This an effort to raise dollars locally to get right back to those families and businesses, but really to the individuals that are most impacted by this crisis.”
“Remember that so many of those businesses are small businesses and they’re mom and pops and so its those families that we want to be able to serve and we plan on doing so through the existing social service agencies that we have in place,” he said.
Significant contributions to the Response Fund have already been made by The CH Foundation, the Helen Jones Foundation, Lubbock Area United Way, and the Community Foundation of West Texas.
Non-profits will go through a grant application process, but the Mayor says money will be seen in days, not months.
“There is already money in the bank. Not just money committed, but checks on hand,” he said. “There is a lot going on in Washington to help business. But that’s going to take a while to get here. We need to help those people in our community that are most in need.”
Individuals can also donate at the register when they visit Market Street, United Supermarkets, or Amigos locations in Lubbock, Levelland, Post, Plainview, and Slaton. United Supermarkets will kick off donations with a $25,000 gift. Guests will be able to give in stores from March 28 through April 10.
Click here to apply or donate.
Gifts to the Response Fund will help South Plains communities respond to both the immediate needs and to the long term needs that will arise from this crisis.
If you would prefer to make a donation by check, please make payable to The Community Foundation of West Texas with COVID-19 Response Fund on the memo line. Mail to 6102 82nd Street, 8b, Lubbock, Texas 79424.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDAITON OF WEST TEXAS
The Community Foundation of West Texas is an independent, non-profit, publicly supported, tax-exempt organization whose purpose is to help donors meet the existing and future needs of the area’s educational, health, cultural, civic and charitable organizations. The Foundation’s mission goes beyond social service and welfare; our donors are improving the overall quality of life in the South Plains area.
ABOUT LUBBOCK AREA UNITED WAY
Since 1946, Lubbock Area United Way has worked to address the root issues of the most significant challenges facing our South Plains communities to create lasting, positive change. The keys to United Way’s success are its long-term partnerships with its Community Partner Agencies and involvement with various local coalitions. More about Lubbock Area United can be learned at www.lubbockareaunitedway.org.