‘We have to help our neighbors.’ Despite COVID-19 challenges, giving continues in Centre County
Since the start of COVID-19 lockdowns across the U.S., stories have flooded the news of toilet paper shortages, food insecurities and unemployment surges. While Centre County is not immune to the challenges, the pandemic has also led to more opportunities for giving — and residents are stepping up.
Columbia Fire Company in Osceola Mills posted on Facebook that it received “overwhelming responses” to donation request letters sent out in February. Mammoth Restoration has been offering its cleaning services free of charge to fire companies across the county. Penn State’s Applied Research Department has teamed up with manufacturing companies to 3D-print personal protective equipment and distribute it to hospitals across the state. Local restaurants have been providing free meals to community members in need.
Everywhere, people are giving.
A cat food drive organized by Suzanne Wills in Lemont resulted in more than 300 pounds of cat food to three area rescues: Hope’s Dream Rescue and Sanctuary in Howard, The 100 Cat Foundation in Centre Hall and Fonda’s Foundlings in State College.
“What made the food drive easy was the community spirit we have in Lemont, the Lemont Village Association who helped with the marketing, and the Lemont Post Office community board where I had permission to post the flyer,” Wills wrote in an email. “Many people stepped up to donate.”
Earlier this month, Centre Foundation pledged more than $500,000 to support nonprofits through its COVID-19 ACTION fund. The foundation will also host Centre Gives — an annual 36-hour online giving event — on May 12-13.
“This community definitely rallies during challenging times, they understand the important jobs that nonprofits do, and they do what they can to help those nonprofits,” Centre Gives Executive Director Molly Kunkel said. “I actually think Centre Gives will be better than ever this year despite the challenges.”
On Friday, Centre County United Way hosted the virtual #LIVEUNITEDLive benefit concert and had more than $18,000 in donations for its 28 partner organizations.
Centre County United Way Executive Director Wendy Vinhage said that more community members’ needs will need to be met as the stay-at-home order continues and recovery begins.
“Left and right, people are being laid off, and that has a snowball effect where there are so many needs that are going to crop up,” Vinhage said. “We’ve never seen anything like this, and I would anticipate that donations are going to increase.”
At the individual level, some Centre County residents have plans to donate their $1,200 stimulus checks from the Internal Revenue Service. Robert Baillie said he gave his money to the State College Food Bank.
“Watching the news and seeing what’s going on, so many people are losing their jobs and their income,” Baillie said. “I didn’t lose my job or my income, so it just didn’t seem right that I should keep this unearned bonus check from the government when so many other people are hurting.”
Baillie’s decision has led others to donate, too. Helen Dempsey, a friend of Baillie’s, was inspired to donate her check to Meals on Wheels, Out of the Cold: Centre County and Centre Helps.
“I believe strongly that it is our job to help people who need help,” Dempsey said. “We have to help our neighbors.”