On March 17, United Way Suncoast launched its COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund with an initial commitment of $250,000 to provide immediate support to those most vulnerable to the economic and basic needs issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic. United Way Suncoast's corporate partners and individual donors continue to add to that initial commitment, bringing the current fund amount to over $1 million. United Way Suncoast says all of those funds will go directly to support needy families in the community.

Human services agencies from throughout the five-county footprint of United Way Suncoast were invited to apply for funding to help support individuals and families dealing with financial hardships caused by coronavirus, and the first round resulted in $322,094 going out to 14 human services agencies to serve 334,889 people—from infants to seniors—in 194,407 households. The funds will support housing/shelter, food, childcare, financial stability and mental health services. The second round of funding is now underway, and as of April 14, more than 80 agencies had completed applications totaling more than  $3.7 million.