United Way receives surprise donation

United Way of Hill County recently received a surprise donation of $2,000 for COVID-19 relief from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation.

“We’re so grateful to the foundation to be able to provide the additional support during the COVID-19 crisis,” United Way of Hill County Board Member and Treasurer Kristi Peterson.

The donation comes shortly after United Way of Hill County received a grant from the foundation to add to their quarterly allocation.

“In 2019, we applied for a grant with the Dennis and Phyllis Washington foundation, and we received a $10,000 grant from them to be given to our funded partners in 2020. So, they knew us from that,” she said. “… Just before we wrote the checks, we received the additional funding of $2,000 for COVID-19 relief. Those were funds we didn’t apply for. Those funds were actually a surprise to us.”

Peterson said this $12,000 was split evenly among their 10 “funded partners,” organizations in Hill County they regularly distribute their donations to. This money from the foundation brings their quarterly allocation to nearly $30,000, which United Way infuses into the community through their funded partners, which include the North Central Senior Center, Havre Salvation Army and the Havre Community Food Bank.

Peterson said this money is especially important in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for the food bank.

“I feel like COVID-19 is going to redirect a lot of people’s lives, whether it’s through their health, which I hope it isn’t, or their occupation,” Peterson said, “… we want to be sure that we can support our community in keeping everyone as healthy and successful in the future. The other thing is obviously keeping food in their bellies, which is a huge issue in our community.”

She said United Way’s funded partners all need help during the pandemic, and they have already provided them with their plans for the money.

“All of our funded partners give us detailed information for how they will use the funds we give them,” Peterson said, “They may use it for something like payroll, sometimes they will go to fund things like temporary housing for people who are in crisis.”

She said despite the pandemic, United Way of Hill County continues to accept donations and remote work has been going well.

“It hasn’t affected operations per se, other than our office isn’t open,” she said.

Peterson said in an email that United Way just received word that NorthWestern Energy will be donating $5,000 in COVID-19 relief as well. She said plans for distributing this money will be made this week.

Peterson added that United Way of Hill County may also have another opportunity to get funding from the Washington Foundation through their challenge grant program.

“If we, from now until September, can raise $1,000 the Dennis and Phillis Washington Foundation will match it,” she said.

Peterson said United Way is looking to raise this money as quickly as possible so they can infuse it into the community to assist during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is really when they need it,” she said.

She added that anyone interested in donating can send money to PO Box 1131, Havre, Montana.