MetroHealth's Helping Hand Fund Meets Needs of Individuals Impacted by COVID-19

CLEVELAND – As The MetroHealth System continues to assist individuals whose access to basic needs has been impacted by the pandemic, the organization also is grateful for the efforts of our community and philanthropic partners through the newly established Greater Cleveland COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund.

More than a week ago, The MetroHealth Foundation established the Helping Hand Fund to help address the growing needs of those in our community affected by COVID-19, especially patients and neighbors under quarantine or at elevated risk of contracting the virus.

Response from donors was immediate. Since last Friday, The MetroHealth Foundation has raised nearly $50,000 from individuals and from generous corporate supporters including the CareSource Foundation, Discount Drug Mart and The Lubrizol Foundation.

“The Lubrizol Foundation is happy to support the good work of MetroHealth’s Helping Hand Fund,” said Beth Grove, President of The Lubrizol Foundation. “In the current crisis, it’s important to reach out directly to those most in need. The Helping Hand Fund has the ability to provide fast and direct assistance to those who are most acutely isolated by the COVID-19 emergency. We applaud MetroHeath’s swift action in organizing and delivering the help needed to those most severely impacted.”

Donations to the fund have supported the purchase and delivery of food, over the counter medication household cleaning supplies and needed hygiene products.

As of today, the Helping Hand Fund has enough funding to meet immediate emergency requests for assistance. The MetroHealth Institute for H.O.P.E.™ continues to coordinate efforts to get those critical supplies to individuals in need.

Employee volunteers also have delivered bags of food and other supplies to the doorsteps of more than 150 people in the neighborhoods surrounding MetroHealth Medical Center and across Cuyahoga County.

“The Helping Hand Fund reflects the essence of MetroHealth and our longstanding commitment to our community,” said Kate Brown, MetroHealth’s Chief Development Officer and President of The MetroHealth Foundation. “The philanthropy efforts of The MetroHealth Foundation will continue to support MetroHealth’s transformation. The driving principle of the Transformation Campaign is tackling the social determinants of health."

These efforts will continue, in collaboration with local service organizations that will be able to seek help from the Greater Cleveland COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund.

Besides making monetary donations to the rapid response fund or individual social service agencies, people are encouraged to offer to provide a meal, deliver food or help with other errands for friends or neighbors who are under quarantined or at elevated risk of contracting COVID-19.

“This a time for all of us to pull together as community,” said Susan Fuehrer, President, Institute for H.O.P.E.™ “That is how we get through these difficult days.”

For more information about MetroHealth’s Transformation Campaign, call Kate Brown at 216-778-7509 or go to https://www.metrohealth.org/foundation.

For more information about quarantine resources and how you can help, go to http://www.metrohealth.org/covid19help.