Since 1992, El Centro Hispano has been dedicated to strengthening the community and advocating for equity and inclusion for local Hispanics and Latinos. The nonprofit serves as a critical support system for many local families, but during an international pandemic, they find themselves needed by the community now more than ever.

As local businesses close their doors and community members lose their jobs, El Centro Hispano has increased their efforts to provide much-needed resources to families who may be economically disadvantaged during the coronavirus outbreak.

To do this, El Centro has created the COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund. This fund aims to support families in the community who may live paycheck to paycheck, those who have lost income due to the closings of their workplace and those who have multiple children and will be forced to stay home or are likely to get sick with COVID-19.

Pilar Rocha-Goldberg is the President and CEO of El Centro Hispano. She said El Centro is working to provide people with the basic necessities needed to help them get through the week.

“Our idea with this fund is to be able to help people with perishable food that almost is never donated but also medicine and other products that people will need,” Rocha-Goldberg said.

Rocha-Goldberg said there is definitely a greater need for financial support in the community and El Centro has continued to see this as applications for the fund continue to roll in.

“So I think the main concern for our community members is mainly how to be able to survive in these difficult times because economically it’s going to be tough,” Rocha-Goldberg said.

El Centro has set a $5,000-dollar goal for the fund and has so far met over $3,000 dollars of that goal.

Rocha-Goldberg said that money will be great for helping people meet their basic needs, but outside of food insecurity, a big concern in the community is being able to pay rent and utilities. That in itself is going to require a lot more fundraising.

“You know, to help one person we need to fundraise between $800 to $1,600 dollars and a lot of people are in this situation,” Rocha-Goldberg said. “So we are trying to see how we can help with that piece, but right now it’s more about the survival of the day to day.”

Outside of fundraising for the COVID-19 Crisis Response fund, El Centro is calling every member to check-in and ask what they need. Whether it’s providing diapers to families with young children or accessing free virtual education classes, Rocha-Goldberg encourages the community to call El Centro if they need help being connected to local services – and of course to donate in whatever way they can.

“Definitely if you can help the community in any way, donating food or with the fund, please contact us – or if you have any questions,” Rocha-Goldberg said. “I think this is a time we really need to be together and support each other, everybody.”

To learn more about El Centro or to donate to their crisis response fund, visit their website.

(Lead photo courtesy of El Centro Hispano)

Note: 97.9 The Hill has been Chapel Hill and Orange County’s daily source for free local news since 1953. Please consider making a donation to continue supporting important local journalism like this.

Related Stories
‹
5 Things We Know and Still Don’t Know About COVID, 5 Years After It Appeared
COVID-19 is less deadly than it was in the pandemic’s early days. But the virus is evolving, meaning scientists must track it closely.
Tracking the Number of Coronavirus Cases in North Carolina
COVID-19 Cluster Reported at UNC's Avery Residence Hall
UNC has identified a cluster of COVID-19 cases at Avery Residence Hall on campus. This is the second COVID-19 cluster identified at UNC in 2021 and the first since the spring semester began on January 19. Earlier this month, a cluster was identified at Carmichael Residence Hall between students who lived on campus during winter […]
Mack Brown, Roy Williams Receive First Doses of the COVID-19 Vaccine
UNC coaches Mack Brown and Roy Williams have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the university confirmed on Friday. “I think that everyone who has the opportunity to take the vaccination should,” Williams said in a Zoom call with reporters. Brown, 69, and Williams, 70, are eligible to receive the vaccine thanks to […]
North Carolina Shatters Single-Day Record With 10,000 New COVID-19 Cases
North Carolina reported 10,398 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, shattering the single-day record for new cases as the state continues to see a significant spread of the virus. North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services reports a total of 592,746 coronavirus cases since the beginning of the pandemic. In addition, the state reported 137 […]
NC Introduces COVID-19 County Alert System Amid Record Hospitalizations
Governor Cooper announced that North Carolina is introducing a county alert system to identify counties with the highest levels of COVID-19 community spread.
New Weekday COVID-19 Testing Available in Chapel Hill
A new no-cost COVID-19 testing option will now be available for Chapel Hill and Orange County residents. The Orange County Health Department announced that a new testing site will be available through OptumServe and will operate on Monday through Fridays in Chapel Hill. The testing site will be located at the R7 Parking Lot (725 Martin […]
Orange County Not Hosting COVID-19 Testing on Election Day
The Orange County Health Department will not host its daily COVID-19 testing event on Election Day. The county has begun its free daily testing event — held Monday through Friday at the Whitted Building in Hillsborough from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, no testing will be available on Tuesday during Election Day. WEEKDAY TESTING […]
Orange County Health Department to Offer Free Daily COVID-19 Tests
Beginning next week, the Orange County Health Department will offer free COVID-19 tests to all residents who need one. Tests will be available at the Whitted Human Services Building (300 West Tryon Street, Hillsborough) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day beginning on Monday, October 26. The only day when tests will not be […]
North Carolina Reports Highest Single-Day Increase in COVID-19 Cases
North Carolina reported 2,532 new coronavirus cases on Thursday — the highest single-day increase in cases since the pandemic began. Data from North Carolina Health and Human Services revealed the increase, marking a new high as North Carolina has seen recent steep increases in positive COVID-19 cases. The department reports the state has experienced an increase […]
›