United Way of the Cape Fear Area, the City of Wilmington, and New Hanover County unite to address current, prominent issues facing the greater Cape Fear community.
Wilmington, NC. (November 16, 2020): Partnerships in philanthropy encourage innovative solutions that better serve families and communities that are facing some of the most difficult chapters in their lives. According to Tommy Taylor, CEO of United Way of the Cape Fear Area, the lingering effects of 2018’s Hurricane Florence, the ongoing opioid abuse crisis, and the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, are all issues the greater Cape Fear community is challenged with.
“You are looking at several different disasters, right? We are looking at Florence, we are looking at COVID, we are looking at…being named the highest rate of overdoses in the nation,” Taylor said. “The City of Wilmington, United Way, New Hanover County; we have all stepped up together in the face of all of that.”
United Way of the Cape Fear Area, the City of Wilmington, and New Hanover County are partnering to establish lasting efforts through innovative initiatives, such as:
The Quick Response Team (QRT) is a co-funded effort to easethe opioid epidemic through Coastal Horizons. By tripling location donations and strategically leveraging funds, United Way of the Cape Fear Area, the City of Wilmington, and the New Hanover County are working together to alleviate this epidemic.
Tommy Taylor voices his concern over the opioid crisis in the city of Wilmington:
“Not long ago our community had the highest rate of overdoses in the nation – and we have stepped up together in the face of all of that and are making tremendous progress together in a united way.”
The COVID-19 Quarantine Program has been an ongoing initiative between New Hanover County Health Department, the Department of Emergency Management, New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC), United Way of the Cape Fear Area, and the Salvation Army. By working together, a solution for COVID-19 positive individuals leaving NHRMC with no safe place to quarantine was presented. Together, they found a safe, isolated facility where they could provide 14 days of quarantine, up-to-date health checks, and meals.
The Healthy Hotels Initiative is an ongoing initiative designed to assist with decompressing homeless shelters and creating safer distances for those in shelters. This initiative also allows for the capability of moving vulnerable populations out of the shelters into their own living spaces. Shelter residents that are moved into the hotel have received case management and meals during their stay.
This initiative has also provided a place to safety for Domestic Violence victims. Victims of Domestic Violence that are housed have access to case management, counsel, and other services. This partnership is currently addressing the surge in Domestic Violence cases. This initiative is a collaboration between the United Way of the Cape Fear Area, City of Wilmington, New Hanover County, Good Shepherd Center, the Cape Fear Collective and nCino.
The New Hanover Disaster Coalition is a collaborative effort led by United Way of the Cape Fear Area between the City of Wilmington, New Hanover County, the Chamber, local churches, non-profit organizations, and for-profit organizations. The City of Wilmington has recently announced a two-year commitment with United Way of the Cape Fear Area to co-fund the infrastructure to better mitigate responsibilities in times of disaster to help with long-term recovery efforts. By partnering with United Way of the Cape Fear Area, the City of Wilmington is assisting in long-term recovery efforts by providing relief assistance for survivors of Hurricane Florence.
In addition, the City of Wilmington most recently launched their United Way of the Cape Fear Area annual giving campaign and announced that the City Council achieved 100% council member participation.
The leadership that the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County are taking by spearheading these innovative initiatives are how solutions are created to some of the toughest challenges our community is facing. It takes leaders, supporters, and heroes to create positive, lasting change in our greater Cape Fear region.
“The leadership that the city and county is exhibiting; they are setting the tone for leadership in our community by saying hey – this is an important part of infrastructure in our community, this nonprofit sector and we believe in United Way.’|” Taylor said. “They both clearly believe in operating with United Way. These outstanding institutions are setting the tone for leadership in our community.”
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