Delaware Answers the Call to Do More

Today, many of us, including the President-elect, are marking Martin Luther King Day with a day of service to give back to the community. It's an appropriate time to check in and see how our state's ongoing service project, Delaware Does More, is going. Organizers hoped to raise $250,000 toward assistance for utility and shelter, and 300,000 pounds of food by the end of February. Last week, I received the following update:

We wanted you to know that the Delaware Does More initiative, a joint project of United Way of Delaware, the Food Bank of Delaware, and the News Journal, continues to achieve its goals by meeting the critical food, shelter, and heat needs of many Delawareans. The combined efforts of our community, corporate and agency Partners have contributed to an overwhelmingly positive response to the program, and your efforts to communicate the initiative are greatly appreciated.

To date, we have:
* Won commitments for $255,000 (and counting!)
* Collected 260,000 pounds of food
* Formed an independent Allocation Committee of community leaders that has guided this initiative and met regularly to establish program guidelines and funding criteria, and to approve specific allocations
* Distributed $51,100 through 10 agency partners
* Provided direct cash assistance for 155 shelter and assistance awards impacting 445 individuals and their families

This is wonderful! Thank you Delaware, for answering the call to service. However, more donations are still needed to ensure we exceed all our goals, so Delaware Does More is continuing to promote food and fundraising events throughout January and February. Your donated food and funds are being distributed as we speak to partner agencies, and then to those in need.

If you are in need of shelter or utility assistance, please contact:

Catholic Charities (Statewide) (302) 655-9624
Claymont Community Center (Claymont) (302) 792-2757
First State Community Action Agency (Statewide) (302) 856-7761
Kingswood Community Center (Wilmington) (302) 764-9022
Latin American Community Center (Wilmington) (302) 655-7338
Neighborhood House (Wilmington) (302) 652-3928
People's Place (Milford) (302) 422-8033
Rose Hill Community Center (New Castle) (302) 656-8513
Sussex Co. Community Crisis Housing (Georgetown) (302) 856-7524
West End Neighborhood House (Wilmington) (302) 658-4171