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Read our statement on COVID-19 
What We Are Doing 
As an organization dedicated to the well-being of our community, we are closely watching the developments surrounding the spread of Coronavirus in our region, and many people may be wondering what we can do to minimize the impact of the outbreak.
We encourage everyone to read these recommendations from the Oregon Health Authority (This link will take you away from unitedwaylbl.org) and the Centers for Disease Control (This link will take you away from unitedwaylbl.org) for reducing the risk of COVID-19 infection for yourselves and others. 

Additionally, we are working with area foundations, community agencies, and other partners to establish an emergency fund to aid those disproportionately affected by the Coronavirus. Click here to donate. The Fund is designed to complement the work of public health officials and expand local capacity to address all aspects of the outbreak as efficiently as possible. United Way's COVID-19 Emergency Fund will provide flexible resources to current partner organizations in our region working with communities who are disproportionately impacted by coronavirus and the economic consequences of this outbreak.

Leading by Example
Our top priority is the safety of our staff, volunteers and guests, so earlier this week we:
• Asked employees to work from home. Our offices will be periodically open as staff pop in for daily activities, however we will be closed for the foreseeable future to the general public. 
• Canceled all in person upcoming events. We are looking to reschedule those events in the future or move them to virtual events held via Skype. 

Planning Ahead
As we have done in the past before other crises, we are also working on contingency plans and talking with other agencies and partners to prepare for this crisis and the actions we will take after it has passed.
Those preparations include galvanizing our community to bring support to those who are being directly or indirectly affected by the outbreak:
• Low-income families with children who go to schools that have been closed and have nowhere else to get their meals
• People whose hours are cut due to temporary closures and who will need assistance to stay in their homes.
• People who are experiencing homelessness and who do not have the resources they need to stay safe.

Unite Together
Viruses don’t discriminate and neither should we. Coronavirus doesn’t recognize race, nationality, ethnicity nor social status. We are stronger as a community when we stand together against discrimination.
We invite members of our community to reach out to us if they need help, and we welcome any input or ideas on how we can better operate as we move forward.
We implore our business community to consider the short- and long-term impact of their economic decisions, which can adversely affect employees and their families. Their livelihoods depend on the income they earn, and reduced hours, as well as prolonged closures, will severely diminish their ability to pay rent and buy food.
Our community is stronger when it is unified, and it is going to take all of us to mitigate the impacts and recover as a community.

Get social with us! 
Facebook: UnitedWayofLinnCounty & UnitedWayBLC 
Twitter: @UnitedWayBLC
LinkedIn:  United Way of Linn County & United Way of Benton & Lincoln Counties 

Media Contact 
Please contact Leah Horton, Director of Community Relations & Engagement for inquiries.

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