GREATER LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) — United Way in Greater Lafayette has created a Tippecanoe COVID-19 Response Fund.

The money will be used to provide financial support to other community outreach programs. This comes at a time when more and more people may need resources as we work through the after-effects of the coronavirus. 

United Way partners with more than 20 resource services in the county. Right now, the funds are expected to go toward people's immediate needs like bills and food. United Way CEO Michael Budd said the use of money will expand depending on needs.

The goal is to provide extra support for people during and after the pandemic.

"We're looking at what does that long term recovery look like and what additional support will the community need even beyond what the government is working to do and provide," said Budd.

Budd says these funds are filling the gaps where other organizations may be struggling to help.

"Rather than us throwing resources at other things, we really want to be thoughtful about it, we want to move quickly, but we want to be thoughtful about it and have a way of assuring the resources that we're deploying are used in appropriate ways," said Budd.

United Way leaders are also partnering with local corporations to help the community. The most recent partnership is providing a meal program with West Lafayette Community School Corporation.

You can help United Way by donating here.