United Way of Richmond County seeks donations to help restock food banks, provide services during COVID-19 pandemic

ROCKINGHAM — United Way of Richmond County continues to request donations to assist families and individuals in need in Richmond County.

Food Banks are seeing increases of 30% to 50% more people in need of assistance along with other crisis services that are provided in our community. Untied Way of Richmond County launched the Richmond County COVID-19 Relief Fund to supply emergency funds to these local nonprofit agencies.

Thank you to Duke Energy Foundation, Enviva, Truist Foundation, community members, and Pee Dee Electric for making donations and making an impact.

Anyone that would like to donate can do so by going to our website at www.unitedwayrichmondnc.net and using our secure Paypal account or you may also mail a check payable to United Way of Richmond County to PO box 153, Rockingham, NC 28380. Please include “Relief Fund” in the memo section. 

According to United Way, 100% of donations will be used in Richmond County to help residents in need of critical information and services like food, rent/mortgage, and utility assistance. 

“United Way has been helping meet basic and emergency needs in our community for over 50 years,” said Michelle Parrish, United Way of Richmond County executive director. “We have identified crisis service providers that we will continue to work with and to help increase resources for individual needs during this unprecedented time.” 

The local agency also highlighted NC 2-1-1 system that was recently announced by Gov. Roy Cooper as the number to call for assistance and resources related to COVID-19. Operated by United Way of North Carolina, NC 2-1-1 is an information and referral service that individuals can use to obtain free and confidential information on health and human service resources within the community.

The service is offered 24 hours each day of the week; resources are available in most languages. Our 211 resource center has answered more than 16,500 calls which are more than received during hurricane season. 

“NC 2-1-1 is an important resource for families in our community who may experience a crisis,” Parrish said. “We anticipate increased needs across the community, and support for 2-1-1 is just another way we are working to assist our community.”