In response to COVID-19, United Way of the Greater Triangle, an organization committed to eliminating poverty and increasing social mobility, created the Rapid Response Fund to support residents of Wake, Durham, Orange and Johnston counties in March. So far, more than $1 million has been raised to provide critical resources, including food, hygiene, childcare and housing assistance for these communities.

“The COVID-19 crisis didn’t just create new challenges for our neighbors in the Greater Triangle, it’s also exacerbating the ones that many were already experiencing,” saidEric Guckian, United Way of the Greater Triangle’s president and CEO.

Thanks to more than 890 individual donors and other contributions from corporate partners like Coastal Credit Union, Burts Bees and Google Fiber, more money is being raised every day.

Sixty-one local nonprofits, including CASA, the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, Urban Ministries of Wake County, the Wake County Boys and Girls Club, A Place At The Table and the YMCA of the Triangle have received over $544,000 from the fund since March 16.

But the need is still great. United Way has already received over 162 applications for funding with requests totaling more than $5.3 million.

To help raise more funds, Tuesday, May 5 has been deemed #GivingTuesday, a global day for donations created by the pillar Giving Tuesday organizations in response to COVID-19.

Donations can be made on United Way’s website or via their Facebook page. One-hundred percent of the funds raised will go back into the communities in need.

“This is the kind of situation that brings us to our knees but also brings us together,” Guckian said. “We’re so thankful to everyone who has and will continue to support this important work.”