Local families need your help
For some families in Hernando County, the recent COVID-19 outbreak has made it even harder to take care of basic needs. Before the outbreak reached our community, 37% of families lived paycheck to paycheck while hovering just above the poverty line, according to a report from United Way’s ALICE Project.
Who is ALICE?
ALICE is a United Way acronym that stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. An ALICE individual works low wage jobs that keep their income level above the poverty line so they cannot qualify for government assistance however they are barely able to support their family. They do not have money in savings and are one emergency away from having their lives turned upside down.
There’s a good chance you have a friend, acquaintance or neighbor that might be struggling and not even know it. They are hard-working individuals who don’t ask for help, sometimes because they don’t even realize that they need it.
How You Can Help
Families like the ones described above are often those who have been laid off, experienced wage cuts or who are still working but unable to do so remotely since the outbreak. Despite economic relief from the government, their financial outlook remains challenging.
Here’s how you can help them:
- Check-in with your neighbors - Being a good neighbor in these troubling times can go along way. Do so while keeping yourself safe by talking through a window or leaving items outside someone’s door.
- Become a United Way Pandemic Pen Pal by writing a letter to a Senior Citizen or nominate someone who could use a little sunshine to brighten their day. www.UnitedWayHernando.org/PenPal
- Donate to a local food pantry - Families struggling to get by depend on local food pantries and that need has increased recently. If you can spare some food, call ahead to your local food pantry to make arrangements for drop off.
- Give to United Way of Hernando County. United Way of Hernando County provides support to families like these through their funded programs. Now more than ever these programs provide vital support to people in our community that improves their health, education and financial stability. With the help of generous supporters like you, we can meet the growing demand for these services and give people in our community the help they need.
