Our August Change for Community recipient is the COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Story County Immigrants, which was founded in late March 2020 as the pandemic began to hit Iowa. It quickly became clear that immigrants were one of the populations being hit hardest both economically and health-wise.

This fund – which is run collaboratively by about a dozen partners and is housed at St. Cecilia – provides financial assistance for rent, utilities, and other basic needs for immigrant households. This includes undocumented or non-status households.

To date, the fund has raised slightly more than $100,000 and has distributed $96,411 of these dollars in over 250 instances of financial aid. Immigrants helped are from throughout the world, including roughly 60% from Latin America and 30% from Africa.

Given that many immigrants in Story County are not eligible for governmental pandemic benefits and work in fields most impacted by COVID-19 related layoffs or reduced hours, the need is great.

Please consider rounding up your transactions at the registers to help make a difference in our community!

If you are able, please consider providing a tax deductible donation: Checks can be mailed to St. Cecilia, 2900 Hoover Ave, Ames, IA 50010. Please write “COVID-19 Fund for Immigrants” in the memo line.

Questions? Please email [email protected] or contact them via Facebook Covid-19 Emergency Fund for Story County Immigrants

GoFundMe Account?? https://gf.me/u/yk8dfm