CHENANGO COUNTY – After raising more than $138,000 for their COVID-19 Relief Fund, Chenango United Way has been able to help 25 organizations, 16 of which they have never assisted with programs in the past.

According to Chenango United Way Executive Director Elizabeth Monaco, the need for COVID-19 related funds is still high even though the main fundraising campaign has ended. Monaco said there were 29 calls from families in need of food over this past weekend, which is a record high for them, and that their COVID-19 relief fund will remain open.

“We recently received a $10,000 contribution from NBT to our COVID-19 relief fund, which is a continued display of their incredible generosity and love for the community,” said Monaco. “We are still continuing to accept and use coronavirus related donations because the need is still here.”

“A lot of people think that all of the COVID funding is going towards the same organizations that we already fund, but it isn’t.”

She said 16 of the 25 organizations that have been funded out of the COVID relief funds are completely new to Chenango United Way funding. She added that 19 organizations are also funded using the regular campaign money.