How to help: Sacramento coronavirus fund accepts donations for homeless, businesses, families
The city of Sacramento has launched a fundraising effort to help the homeless, small businesses, families and other residents who have been hit the hardest economically by the coronavirus.
The campaign, Donate4Sacramento, allows people to donate toward four categories: families in need of childcare, meals, and rental assistance; small businesses in the form of no-interest loans; services for the homeless; and nonprofit support, said Councilman Jay Schenirer, who took the lead on the project. People can also donate without selecting a category and their money will be spent where it’s needed most, Schenirer said.
“When there’s a challenge, Sacramento steps up,” Schenirer said during a City Hall press conference Monday, wearing a blue Donate4Sacramento T-shirt and standing in front of banners displaying the same phrase.
Officials have a goal of raising $1.5 million and have so far raised more than $300,000, said Chet Hewitt, president and CEO of the Sierra Health Foundation. That includes $150,000 from HealthNet; $150,000 from the Sierra Health Foundation; $30,000 from Comcast; and $10,000 from the Teichert Foundation.
While those are big donations, Mayor Darrell Steinberg encouraged residents to give whatever they can, even if it’s just $5 or $10.
“The numbers will add up and everyone can feel rightfully like they’re doing something to help others,” Steinberg said.
The city last week started accepting applications for a $1 million emergency relief fund, which will distribute no-interest loans up to $25,000 for small businesses. In 48 hours, the city received more than 3,000 applications, Schenirer said.
Officials have not yet determined how many of those businesses will be chosen to benefit from the fund, Steinberg said, but donations to Donate4Sacramento will increase the number.
The city will respond to those applicants within one week, a city website says.
“The mayor and I were on a call last week with 16 restaurants. I don’t know how many of those will be around in the next four weeks or so,” Schenirer said.
The city and Sierra Health Foundation will launch websites showing where donations are coming from and how they will be spent, Schenirer said.
“We will be transparent about how we do this,” Schenirer said.
The funds will be administered by The Center at the Sierra Health Foundation; Sacramento Region Community Foundation; United Way California Capital Region and the city, a news release said.
An advisory group comprised of members who are being most economically impacted by the virus will also help decide how to spend the donations, Schenirer said.
Small businesses looking for help accessing state and federal assistance can visit this website.
This story was originally published March 23, 2020 at 11:07 AM.
