COVID-19 is creating an evolving situation with carried impacts around the world and across the states. In Ohio, we are seeing first-hand the effects of COVID-19 as it continues to spread across the state. Our Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and Frontline staff have stepped up and rallied together so that the people who count on us are cared for, healthy, and safe. They are essential healthcare workers, who are passionately dedicated to our clients.
Our clients require intimate and ongoing care from our DSPs to provide care and support every day, and this cannot change to accommodate “social distancing” during the outbreak. We recognized early on that the current pandemic would result in financial challenges for our Frontline Caregivers, which is why we started our Frontline Caregiver Support Fund. This fund is designated to assist Frontline Caregivers who experience a financial emergency during the COVID-19 crisis.
“The frontline fund has helped me a lot paying for childcare so I can be able to come to work and care for my individuals. It also helped me with bills I was behind on.”
Due to the pandemic, our DSPs are experiencing financial hardships for several reasons such as, a spouse/significant other being laid off, children being home from school, and supporting their extended family members through illness or financial crisis. As we opened the fund, we already received a large number of requests that were submitted. While the requests vary from paying bills and rent to covering the cost of childcare, the most common request is assistance in purchasing food and groceries. With our staff coming together to care for our clients during this crisis, we are honored to stand behind them and make sure their needs are taken care of.
From the beginning of this fundraising campaign, we anticipated the need for this fund would grow exceedingly high as the pandemic continued to grow in Ohio, which is why we set our goal to raise $100,000. As of today, we raised over $50,000, and none of that would be possible without the support from our amazing community of donors. We want to thank Medical Mutual for awarding us $25,000 in support of our Frontline fund. As a Koinonia partner, we are very grateful for their aid and support of our Frontline staff. We also want to thank the FirstEnergy Foundation and American Family Insurance dreams foundation for allowing us to reallocate $10,000 from our 2020 grants in response to COVID-19. With help from our donors, we were able to pay a total of $23,325 to 118 of our employees!
As we face these uncertain times, we are thankful for all donors, partners, and supporters who help us continue to carry out our mission. Learn how you can help support our Frontline staff as we navigate our way through the COVID-19 Pandemic by clicking here.
