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Hospitality & Restaurant

Worker Relief Fund

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted communities across the United States, causing business and school closures, health concerns, and staggering need.

Through it all, hospitality and restaurant workers have increased their health and safety protocols while navigating the uncertainty of employment and the stressors of everyday living in a pandemic.

To show our appreciation to hospitality and restaurant workers for their contributions to our community, Pocono Mountains United Way has established the Hospitality & Restaurant Worker Relief Fund. As an offshoot of the organization’s Crisis Response Fund, 100% of all donations will be utilized in the form of direct mini-grants to workers.

Contents

Application   Applicant FAQ   Donors/Press   Our Partners

Join the fight:  Sign Up to Volunteer
We continue to work to combine efforts and maximize reach.  To determine how your skills can be best matched to local volunteering needs, please check out VolunteerMonroe.org for available opportunities or reach out to Ryan@PoconoUnitedWay.org.

Applications

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Application Process

To apply for the Hospitality & Restaurant Worker Relief Fund, please fill out the form here:  https://www.PoconoUnitedWay.org/Relief

If you are a hospitality and restaurant employee and live OR work in Wayne, Pike, Monroe, and Carbon counties you may be eligible to apply for this fund.

Once you have applied for the Hospitality and Restaurant Worker Relief Fund, you will receive an e-mail with information about whether it was approved or denied.  Funding is not guaranteed, and will be provided on a first-come first-serve basis. Due to the volume of applications, we will not accept phone calls or emails requesting information about individual applications.

FAQ

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FAQ

Where can I apply for relief funds?
You can visit PoconoUnitedWay.org/Relief to apply to receive relief funds. The application opened on December 15, 2020 at 10:30 am, and is accepting applications on a first-come first-serve basis.

What will I receive?
Eligible recipients will receive funds in the form of a $250 gift card, virtual gift card, or ACH transfer. Gift cards can be used as cash anywhere major credit cards are accepted. Funds will be provided via “Tremendous Rewards” via email or text message, with the option of choosing how you would like to receive the funds.

When will I be notified if I will receive money?
If you have applied for the Hospitality and Restaurant Worker Relief Fund, you will receive an e-mail with information about whether it was approved or denied. Due to the volume of applications, we will not accept phone calls or emails requesting information about individual applications.

When do applications open?
Applications opened on December 15, 2020 at 10:30 am. Eligible applicants are being approved on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted.

Who is eligible?
All applicants must be 18 years or older and meet income guidelines.

Individuals who are currently employed or who have been employed in the last 60 days by a restaurant or hospitality business in the Pocono Mountains (employer located in Wayne, Pike, Monroe or Carbon County, PA are eligible to apply.

Individuals who reside in Wayne, Pike, Monroe or Carbon County, PA and who are currently employed or who have been employed in the last 60 days by a restaurant or hospitality business in Pennsylvania are eligible to apply.

What do I need to apply?
Eligibility criteria includes proof of employment at a restaurant or hospitality business (paystub, etc.), 2019 tax return, and a short description of how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the applicant financially.

Can I apply if I am paid in cash?
All applicants must provide a paystub from within the last 60 days demonstrating their employment at a hospitality or restaurant business in Pennsylvania. If a paystub is not provided the application will not be processed.

How can I use the funds?
Recipient may use the gift card as cash anywhere that major credit cards are accepted and should use funds to address immediate basic needs of themselves or their dependents, including rent, transportation, medical expenses or food.

Can I apply more than once?
Individuals will only be eligible to receive a gift card once every 365 days. Gift cards will not be awarded to the same individual twice within a 365 day (one year) period.

Who can I contact if I need more help?
Hospitality and restaurant workers and their families may explore additional resources and options available by calling 2-1-1 or visiting 211.org for more information. Individual 211 agencies cannot apply for the fund on your behalf, you can only apply using our online application.

Where can I donate?
Visit PoconoUnitedWay.org/covid-19 and click on the Paypal Donate button to contribute to the Hospitality & Restaurant Worker Relief Fund.

Questions

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Donor & Media Inquiries

For donors interested in contributing to the Fund, contact Pocono Mountains United Way’s President/CEO Michael Tukeva at Michael@PoconoUnitedWay.org. Donors are able to contribute by check, cash, or other assets as well.

For media inquiries and interview requests, contact Pocono Mountains United Way’s Vice President, Community Impact Sarah Jacobi at Sarah@PoconoUnitedWay.org.  

Partners

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Our Partners

Thank you to our partners who are coming together from philanthropy, government, and business to support the hospitality & restaurant workers in our community.

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Crisis Response Fund

Hospitality & Restaurant Worker Relief Fund

A coalition of philanthropy, government, and business partners has joined together to create the Monroe County Crisis Response Fund that is rapidly deploying flexible resources to organizations in our region working with communities who are disproportionately impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and the economic consequences of this health crisis.

Note: 100% of donations made to the Crisis Response Fund starting 12-11-2020 will be specifically designated to our Hospitality & Restaurant Worker Relief Fund.

Contents

About   Questions/Comments   Our Partners   FAQ   Fund Recipients

Join the fight:  Sign Up to Volunteer
We continue to work to combine efforts and maximize reach.  To determine how your skills can be best matched to local volunteering needs, please check out VolunteerMonroe.org for available opportunities or reach out to Ryan@PoconoUnitedWay.org.

About

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About the Crisis Response Fund

Hosted by Pocono Mountains United Way, the Crisis Response Fund is providing flexible resources to organizations in our region working with communities who are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and the economic consequences of this outbreak. Grants fund organizations that have deep roots in community and strong experience working with residents without health insurance and/or access to paid sick leave, people with limited English language proficiency, healthcare and tourism workers, and communities of color, among others. 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.  

The first phase of rapid-response grants is increasing resiliency in disproportionately affected communities by addressing the economic impact of reduced and lost work due to the broader COVID-19 outbreak, the immediate needs of economically vulnerable populations caused by COVID-19 related closures, the increased demand for medical information and support, and fear and confusion about the outbreak among our most vulnerable residents. We anticipate that the primary areas of need includes: Food for children out of school, housing assistance for displaced workers (renters and owners), people experiencing homelessness (shelters in Monroe County are full or no longer taking new individuals and families due to the recent crisis) and college students facing barriers.  Pocono Mountains United Way reserves the right to support other areas of need that develop from the crisis. 

Pocono Mountains United Way is administering grants from the Fund and the decision of funding is determined by a subset of the Board of Directors of Pocono Mountains United Way and other community leaders. Together we are proactively identifying potential grant recipients, solicit guidance on potential recipients from community advisers, and recommend final awards. Funds are being released on a rolling basis as fundraising continues throughout the outbreak and recovery phases of the crisis, making it possible to move resources quickly and adapt to evolving needs in subsequent funding phases. 

Questions

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Questions

General questions & inquiries about the Fund can be directed to Pocono Mountains United Way’s Development Director, Ryan Lohman at Ryan@PoconoUnitedWay.org.  

For donors interested in contributing to the Fund, contact Pocono Mountains United Way’s President/CEO Michael Tukeva at Michael@PoconoUnitedWay.org. 

For non-profits interested in utilizing funds, contact Pocono Mountains United Way’s Vice President, Community Impact Sarah Jacobi at Sarah@PoconoUnitedWay.org.  

For media inquiries and interview requests, contact Pocono Mountains United Way’s Vice President, Community Impact Sarah Jacobi at Sarah@PoconoUnitedWay.org.  

To make a donation by check or other assets, contact Pocono Mountains United Way’s President/CEO Michael Tukeva at Michael@PoconoUnitedWay.org.  

Partners

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Our Partners

Thank you to our partners who have come together from philanthropy, government, and business to support our community through the Crisis Relief Fund.

FAQ

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FAQ

I’m an individual who’s been affected by COVID-19. Can this Fund help me?
We understand many individuals and families have been affected by the outbreak already and more will continue to be affected. On behalf of the Fund’s partners, Pocono Mountains United Way is working to move resources to community-based organizations that are directly supporting local residents and families who are most affected by emerging health, economic, and social impacts. 

While the Fund is not able to provide grants to individuals, it is funding community-based organizations that have experience and history of providing people and families with services and support. As we continue to award grants, we are posting them here. Please check back for a list of the organizations that may be able to assist you. If you are looking for resources now, please check our “Helpful Resources” page, or call 2-1-1 or 570-517-3953.

My organization is interested in resources from this Fund. Can we be considered?
We understand the COVID-19 outbreak is impacting nonprofits in many ways, including increased demand for their services, lost revenue due to closures and cancellations, as well as other challenges. Pocono Mountains United Way’s Board of Directors and Staff are working to ensure that the grants awarded meet the greatest needs in communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. In order to move resources quickly, we are not hosting a formal application process for the Fund. Rather, please fill out this short application to apply:  Crisis Response Fund Application

To confirm your application has been received, please email Sarah@PoconoUnitedWay.org.  

I want to donate. Can I restrict my funding to a prioritized grantee?
We are so glad that you are interested in donating! Currently, we ask that all gifts remain unrestricted to ensure we move resources as efficiently as possible and respond to needs of communities most impacted.

Can I donate anonymously?
For transparency and our desire to thank every donor, we would like to list every donor on this page.  But if you would like your donation to be anonymous, please email Michael@PoconoUnitedWay.org.

Should I give to this Fund instead of making other donations?
This Fund was not created to be the only vehicle for getting needed resources into the community, but to help facilitate getting more targeted resources into the community. This is a critical time for so many, including the nonprofit organizations who’ve benefited from your giving in the past, as well as those who’ve had to cancel their annual fundraising events or depend heavily on public gatherings. Please continue to give to organizations you regularly support, and those that need your help at this crucial time. Now is the time to double down for our community. 

What is NOT be included in the first phase of funding?
We anticipate multiple phases of funding to address the both the acute needs now and the longer-term impacts of the outbreak and recovery. In this first phase, we are prioritizing community-based organizations that are serving communities and individuals who are immediately and disproportionately suffering from this crisis. In this first round, we are not able to prioritize organizations who have lost revenue or are likely to lose future revenue due to canceled events or programs, or larger public institutions that are strained by increased demand for services. We recognize these challenges, and as the crisis and long-term impacts continue to unfold, we continue to assess and evolve our funding strategies. 

Based upon the charitable structure of the Crisis Response Fund, our grants are limited to 501c3 nonprofit organizations, groups fiscally sponsored by a 501c3 nonprofit organization, or other charitable organizations able to receive a tax-deductible contribution, such as schools, faith-based organizations, and other public entities. We are not able to fund individuals or businesses directly, labor unions, or other 501c4, 501c5, and 501c6 organizations. 

Is there a geographic area of focus for the Fund? 
The Crisis Response Fund prioritizes community-based organizations serving Monroe County communities. We are doing this with a recognition that many Monroe County nonprofits serve workers and residents in our neighboring counties. We also know that there are many organizations in neighboring counties that have broader footprints, serving Monroe County residents. 

When are you sharing who you fund? 
We are currently sharing who we have funded so far below. We hope that this will help the community navigate available resources, as well as provide transparency for our fund.

Fund Recipients

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Fund Recipients

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Community Cares Certificates

Pocono Mountains United Way has launched the Community Cares Certificate fundraiser to support families in need as well as locally owned establishments. Simply donate in increments of $25 AND list the local establishment that you want to support.* There are no administration or overhead fees. 

Every $25 donation provides a $25 gift certificate to a local restaurant for a family or individual in need.

Donate now on GoFundMe →

You are supporting local businesses AND local families in Monroe County!  To Date:  286 clients of 11 Nonprofit agencies have received $25 gift certificates to 29 Restaurants around Monroe County and counting!

We would like to specially thank Kiwanis Club of the Stroudsburgs for their $3,000 contribution to this program, and Kiwanis Club of the Poconos – Daybreak for their $1,000 contribution to this program (and contribution to our Crisis Response Fund).  We have now raised $7,150 for our Community Cares Certificates program, exceeding our goal of $5,000!

*Local establishment must be able to produce and mail certificates as directed by Pocono Mountains United Way. If chosen restaurant cannot provide a certificate, another restaurant will be chosen.  Certificates will be provided to individuals and families that are existing clients of Women’s Resources, Pocono Services for Families and Children, Pocono Area Transitional Housing, Salvation Army, Red Cross, Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network and Pocono Mountains United Way.  

Thank you for donating and showing our Monroe County community you care.  #LiveUnited #PoconoProud