Local charity receives grant for COVID relief

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) Spread The Love Charity has received over 700 thousand dollars to assist Imperial Valley families who have been affected by COVID.

The money will assist with 4 existing programs and expand them.

Homeless prevention, rapid rehousing, street outreach to find people who have been affected by COVID and data collection. 

Prior to this grant, the charity would assist with one month's worth of rent now they have expanded that to three. 

“it’s a small town so once someone misses a week worth of work or misses a paycheck it throughs off their whole means of sustaining their household so if we can step in and alleviate some of that financial pressure due to COVID related circumstances that's going to be a huge game-changer in the Imperial Valley,” said Executive Director Jessica Solorio.

They will reach out to people affected by COVID by speaking to caseworkers in hospitals. 

She added, “Like Dr.VO in Calexico you know he knows what patients of his is having a hardship so he would be able to send that referral directly to us to be able to help anyone that is COVID positive or COVID related.” 

Solorio says the biggest challenge in assisting people has been that everything is through email now and some people do not know how to email.

“They’ve been having to mail it or umm call IID or the gas company and having them email us directly.” 

They hope to help up to 150 families for each program.