At this very challenging time, Rice County Area United Way is working with our community partners to address rapidly changing needs. We will update this article from time to time with additional information.
Assistance and Referrals
Residents across Minnesota looking for assistance and referrals can contact United Way's 24/7 helpline: call 211, text your zip code to 898211, or visit the website and chat at www.211unitedway.org. For information and updates specific to coronavirus, you can text MNCOVID to 898211.
How You Can Help
We encourage people to donate directly to agencies that are providing direct assistance. We have also set up a COVID_19 Agency Relief fund (more information below) for those who would like to make their donation through Rice County Area United Way.
Community Action Center of Northfield is devoting extraordinary efforts to respond thoughtfully, responsibly and equitably to make sure that our most vulnerable do not fall through the cracks during this crisis. They have set up a COVID-19 relief fund. All resources will provide direct financial assistance to individuals and families facing financial crisis due to COVID-19. You can MAKE A DONATION HERE and select the designation "COVID-19 Assistance." They are also in need of volunteers.
HealthFinders Collaborative provides medical and advocacy services on a sliding fee scale to Rice County residents who have limited access to health care. HFC's spring gala, the main fundraiser for the year, has had to be canceled. To support their essential work at this particularly needful time, DONATE HERE.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul's volunteer-run Faribault food shelf and other services have seen increased demand while their volunteers have decreased. To support their delivery of essential services to vulnerable people you can send a check to Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 617 3rd Ave. NW, Faribault, MN 55021. If you can volunteer, please call 507-334-2100.
Donating Via Rice County Area United Way
You may make a donation to provide additional support to our partner agencies that are assisting people impacted by the COVID-19 health emergency. This fund will not involve Rice County Area United Way providing direct assistance to individuals. Our trusted partner agencies are the experts in doing that, and we will direct your donations to support their essential work at this very challenging time. Please write COVID-19 in the comments area on our donation form (click on the blue DONATE button at the lower right of this page), or in the memo line of your check sent to Rice County Area United Way, PO Box 56, Northfield, MN 55057.
United Way Worldwide Fund
United Way Worldwide, our parent organization, has established a COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund to provide a place for major donations to flow to. The Fund will support communities struggling in the wake of the new virus, through local United Ways and the 211 network, the go-to information resource in times of crisis. We may see some funds distributed to us from this fund and will make those available to agencies if and when that happens.
Please stay home if you can, and take good care of yourselves and each other. We will weather this difficult time by supporting each other as a community.
(Article updated 9/25/20)