By Donna Lewis Johnson
Special to the AFRO
If you live in Prince George’s County and lost a low-wage, hourly job due to the coronavirus pandemic, a new relief fund has been established to assist you.
The Prince George’s County COVID-19 Hourly Employee Relief Fund will provide $200 cash cards to more than 2,000 laid-off hourly workers to help make it possible for impacted households to pay a bill or buy groceries.
“With thousands of Prince George’s County residents being laid off, specifically hourly low-wage workers, thousands of Prince George’s County households are in danger of experiencing immediate poverty,” said Employ Prince George’s, the nonprofit managing the fund.
Prince George’s County Public Schools provided over $2 million worth of laptop computers and guaranteed graduating seniors that they will still have a prom and graduation despite cancelled classes and activities for the foreseeable future. (Courtesy Image/Logo)
In helping families to get through this tough time, the relief fund also aims to support local businesses. “We have created this fund to assist the employees who have been laid off, while simultaneously supporting local businesses with the money that will be disbursed and spent in the County,“ said Employ Prince George’s president and chief executive officer, Walter L. Simmons.
The fund was established with $100,000 in funding from the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund and a $100,000 match from Employ Prince George’s.
Employ Prince George’s will seek donations from stable businesses, interest groups, and individuals in the weeks ahead, according to the nonprofit.
“We are in unprecedented times, including times of great economic uncertainty, but we are asking for everyone to help those most in-need and those most likely to experience immediate poverty,” Simmons added.
For step-by-step instructions on how to apply for financial assistance, visit www.employpg.org/covid19/. Preference will be given to applicants who were making less than $19 an hour.
Individuals may donate to the fund online via PayPal at www.employpg.org/how-you-can-help/ or by emailing Employ Prince George’s Community Development Director, Jamie Gunnell, at JNGunnell@co.pg.md.us.
