Feeding Hometown Heroes
Recognizing the critical role frontline caregivers are playing to help keep the community safe, United Way of Portage County and The NEW Center at Northeast Ohio Medical University came together in April to provide meals for those working on the frontlines in Portage County.
“United Way of Portage County is dedicated to supporting our local communities through the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Bill Childers, President & CEO, United Way of Portage County. “We are pleased to assist frontline workers and to show our gratitude for all they are doing. It is important that we support each other during these unsure times and UWPC is committed to keeping Portage County strong and safe.”
To support the community during the ongoing global health crisis, United Way of Portage County created a COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to help ensure Portage County non-profits have the supplies they need to serve the community. Using some of those funds, THE NEW Center kitchen staff prepared home-style dinners for more than 250 UH Portage caregivers as well as 30 EMT staff and volunteers at the Rootstown Fire Department.
“The NEW Center and United Way of Portage County have been partners since we opened almost six years ago,” said Andy Malitz, Executive Director of The NEW Center and an active board member for the United Way of Portage County. “We were thrilled to again team with them and help support the amazing health care workers and emergency response teams across Portage County who put others before themselves.”
University Hospitals is grateful to all individuals and organizations willing to help our caregivers, patients and community during the COVID-19 crisis. Community response and caregiver support funds have been established to support the extensive patient care, medical supplies, research and education needs.