Puyallup nonprofits receive help from national veteran organization amid coronavirus crisis
Puyallup nonprofits have received $6,000 in donations from a national veterans program.
Veterans United Foundation has provided $1 million in donations to organizations across the country to help service providers support vulnerable populations during the coronavirus pandemic. Puyallup was the only city in Washington to receive help.
The foundation is funded solely by Veterans United Home Loans employees, said Afifa Saburi with Veterans United Home Loans. Workers donate a portion of their salaries for the foundation. Veterans United has a branch office in Puyallup.
Three Puyallup non-profit organizations — Step By Step, Communities in Schools and the Puyallup Food Bank — were given $2,000 each by the foundation.
Puyallup Food Bank CEO Jim Beaudoin said Veterans United has been helping feed the community for years.
“They are supporting us all the time. A few years ago, they donated $10,000,” he said. “It all helps us serve the community, especially at a time when need is swelling up.”
He said the funds will help purchase more food. With other food banks increasing their purchases as well, prices for food in bulk has been creeping up, Beaudoin said. The wait for deliveries also has increased to about eight weeks.
Jan Mauk, director of Communities in Schools for Puyallup, said she hasn’t received any funds yet, but they will be used to support families with food and basic needs.
Charitable donations have surged in recent weeks, as philanthropists, foundations and organizations have teamed up to help those most in need. Pierce County’s United Way and Greater Tacoma Community started Pierce County Connected, which has raised over $6.5 million to help homeless service providers, food banks, hospitals and senior centers.
This story was originally published April 19, 2020 at 7:00 AM.
