Meeting Basic Needs in Challenging Times
Continuing to Offer Food, Housing Help, and More
Kari Hoskin, Client Support Front Desk Volunteer
Food and shelter. Two of our most basic needs. As the impact of COVID-19 ramped up and began affecting every aspect of our daily lives, ICA remained committed to ensuring that everyone in our community has these basic needs met.
In the past three months, like all of you, we have had to adjust our daily actions, including the ways we operate the food shelf, interact with clients, and engage with our community. But one thing hasn’t changed: we are here to help meet the basic needs of everyone in our community. We will continue to be here, ensuring that families have food to eat every day, and a roof over their heads every night.
Throughout all of the changes, pivots, quick decisions, and adjustments, we made all decisions based on our values and the safety and well-being of our community -- clients, volunteers, staff, and donors.
Thanks to your ongoing support, we are able to provide food to those in need and continue to provide assistance with rent and utilities, thereby preventing homelessness. We’re also still connecting people to other resources in our community to help them stabilize during these difficult times. And while many companies have furloughed and laid off employees, we’re continuing to offer assistance to those looking for jobs.
We saw nearly triple the amount of new clients in March and April 2020 than we did during the same time the previous year (165 new households, compared to 60 in 2019.) We provided 129 emergency food services in March (compared to 61 in March 2019.)
All told, our total food services are up 11% compared to 2019, and we anticipate that the need will continue to grow. During the first three weeks of May, we helped double the amount of families compared to the entire month of May 2019. And we anticipate a second wave of increased need to come later this summer, as people are without income for a longer period of time, rent moratoriums are lifted and three months of rent becomes due, and unemployment benefits decrease or cease. We need your help to continue to meet the need in our community and to meet the expected increase in need.
For every dollar you donate, we are able to purchase up to $10 worth of food. Your donations also enable neighbors to stay in their homes, avoiding eviction and homelessness. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to help our neighbors in need. We are so grateful for your partnership.
Note: This article originally appeared in our Summer 2020 Newsletter in a slightly different format.