Gov. Jared Polis Announces Coronavirus Relief Fund

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has announced a new relief fund that aims to mitigate the impact of the new coronavirus on Colorado families, businesses and workers. The new effort will be overseen by the State of Colorado and Mile High United Way.

The Colorado COVID-19 Relief Fund will go to prevention, impact and recovery efforts, Polis said. The fund will provide flexible resources to organizations in the state working with communities who are disproportionately impacted by the outbreak.

The money that's donated will go to many efforts, including the support of older Coloradans, health care, medical supplies, child care, homeless shelters, food delivery, hourly and part-time workers who've lost their jobs, small businesses, volunteer services and behavioral health initiatives.

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The fund will be overseen by a committee of community leaders from across Colorado.

As of Wednesday, 2.8 million had been raised for the fund. Polis said any donation amount is appreciated.

>>>Donations to the fund can be made here.

"Things that we took for granted just two weeks ago are no longer taken for granted," Polis said at a news conference Wednesday. "This will get worse before it gets better. But this will end — there will be a recovery."

He said the state is doing everything it can to balance the public health impacts with the impacts on the economy and "families that need to put food on the table."

Those who aren't in a position to donate money are asked to consider donating time — learn more about volunteering here.

"I want to challenge Coloradans to do their part to make sure we all get through this together," Polis said.

The governor also said that blood donations are needed. While COVID-19 patients don't need blood, many other patients do, and hospitals have seen a drop in blood donations. Safety protocols are in place and donating blood is safe, health officials said.

>>>Learn about how to donate blood here.

Polis also put together the Colorado Emergency Child Care Collaborative — a group of early childhood providers, advocacy groups, school districts and foundations to partner with the Colorado Department of Human Services and the Office of Early Childhood to establish a system of emergency child care for the state's essential workers.

More than 80,000 emergency workers in the state have children under age 8, Polis said. The emergency child care will be provided on a sliding scale for first responders, all essential health care system workers and hospital staff. More information about the program can be found here.

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