LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i United Way’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund was recently was graced with a $5,000 contribution from the Hawai‘iUSA Federal Credit Union.
“COVID-19 had created so much need for food and other resources because of the unemployment associated with the pandemic,” said Taylor Shigemoto, sales executive director for Hawai‘iUSA FCU.
“We are blessed to have the resources where we can help provide relief to some of these community concerns.”
Lori Almarza, KUW acting executive director, said the KUW COVID-19 Emergency Fund was created following the public health emergency in Hawai‘i.
“We hope to grow this fund and are currently accepting applications from our Kaua‘i United Way partner agencies, asking them where the greatest needs are,” Almarza said. “We hope to have monies start distributing within the next month.
Previous contributors to the KUW COVID-19 Emergency Fund include Hawaiian Electric Industries, AES Distributed Energy, John and Marcia Harter, Andrew Bushnell and various anonymous donors.
Donations to help people through this COVID-19 pandemic can be mailed to Kaua‘i United Way, 4374 Kukui Grove St., Suite 201, Lihu‘e, HI 96766, or contributions can be done online at the Kaua‘i United Way website at kauaiunitedway.org.
Almarza also announced the availability of rental and utility assistance through the Aloha United Way COVID-19 Emergency Fund.
“Kaua‘i United Way has received $50,000 through the Aloha United Way COVID-19 Emergency Fund for this purpose,” Almarza said.
“People needing assistance with rent and/or utilities, and have filed for unemployment, should call 211 to start the intake process. Once that is accomplished, local agencies here on Kaua‘i will be furthering the intake process before funding gets distributed,” she said.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
