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In response to the COVID – 19 outbreak, the United Way of Selma and Dallas County have established a Community Relief Fund, with an initial $10,000 allocation, to provide food, emergency family assistance and aide to local non-profit organizations.

United Way of Selma and Dallas County Executive Director Jeff Cothran said that United Way branches across the state, and the nation, have enacted similar measures after schools, businesses and restaurants began to close because of the virus.

“The United Way is working state-wide to establish similar funds,” said Cothran. “We knew this was something we needed to do when everything started closing… these funds were set to assist, specifically, those affected by the virus.”

According to Cothran, local non-profits that will benefit from the Community Relief Fund include the Bosco Nutrition Center, Selma Area Food Bank, Dallas County Family Resource Center and the Salvation Army.

Cothran says that the COVID – 19 outbreak is hitting non-profit organizations the second-hardest of any other group, second only to the medical field.

“People don’t really realize,” he said. “But a lot of stuff is handled by non-profits.”

Cothran described the Community Relief Fund as “reinforcement”, allowing non-profits in Dallas County to continue serving the public during the outbreak.

To contribute to the United Way of Selma and Dallas County’s Community Relief Fund, interested donors can visit selmaunitedway.org, or click the “donate now” button that has been set up on the organization’s Facebook page.