Submitted photo Lori Pickell-Stangel, executive director of the United Way of the Brown County Area, holds chekc replica representing a donation of $11,500 from 3M New Ulm to the United Way’s COVID-19 emergency fund.

NEW ULM — New Ulm 3M recently contributed $11,500 to the United Way of the Brown County Area, to help with the COVID crisis in the area.

The United Way of the Brown County Area has been taking donations for their COVID-19 Emergency Non-Profit Assistance Grant fund for just over two months. These grants support non-profit organizations that provide services to families and individuals in Brown County who are struggling due to the COVID-19 crisis. Many individuals and local area businesses have donated to the almost $25,000 raised.

“I received an email from Carol Walls, from our local 3M, that our United Way would be receiving a donation to help our local communities dealing with the Pandemic,” Lori Pickell-Stangel, executive director of the United Way said.

“This was our largest donation to date, and all of us at the United Way were so thrilled to be able to get these funds out to the families and individuals who really need it.”

All the donation funds will all go to the COVID 19 Emergency Fund to assist local Brown County Nonprofits.

Round 4 grants

open now

The United Way is taking applications for round 4 of our COVID grants and will start accepting applications that not only deal with immediate COVID-19 Emergency relief, but now also recovery. “Just as our local businesses that have been shut down, many of our local nonprofits will have to set up safety plans and purchase cleaning supplies, PPE, and gloves to ensure their staff and clients stay healthy,” Pickell-Stangel said. “As many of us know, these supplies can be very expensive, so we encourage organizations to apply for a COVID-19 grant.”

Organizations that have a focus in the areas of basic needs (food, health (physical, mental, and those with disabilities) and vulnerable populations who suffer hardship as a direct result of COVID-19 or for recovery plans, supplies, technology or other costs due to safety measures dealing with COVID-19 are encourage to apply.

Grant awards are limited to a maximum of $1,000 per grant and a minimum of $250. It is the United Way’s goal to have grant cycles on a two-week rolling basis until funds are exhausted. Grants will be judged on need and impact in relation to the COVID-19 Emergency and made to 501(c)3 charitable organizations. Grants from the United Way cannot be made directly to individuals or families. Click on the link below to fill out our online application:

https://www.unitedwaybrowncountyarea.org/covid-19-emergency-non-profit-assistance-grant-application

If you are not able to complete the COVID-19 Emergency Non-Profit Assistance Grant online, there is a pdf printable version that can be filled out and mailed or emailed to the United Way office:

UnitedWay@newulmtel.net Or United Way of the Brown County Area- PO Box 476 -New Ulm, MN 56073

The United Way will continue to ask the public for donations for their COVID-19 Fund and staff has started the grant process from several businesses and other non-profit organizations to hopefully add to the fund. If you would like to donate to our COVID 19 Emergency Fund, please go to:

https://www.unitedwaybrowncountyarea.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=4

If you are in need or suffering from the impacts of the COVID-19 Emergency, please go to our Partner Organization page for help: https://www.unitedwaybrowncountyarea.org/partner-organizations

Or call / email the United Way: UnitedWay@newulmtel.net or 507-354-6512.

You can also learn more about the United Way of Brown County Area at https://www.unitedwaybrowncountyarea.org/