Donors give to immigrant families through Latino Association
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A large group of workers, including many first-responders, are categorically excluded from any financial help at all to cope with the COVID-19 emergency. The Latino Community Association is speaking up and taking action to address this injustice.
LCA has started a COVID-19 Immigrant Family Relief Fund to prevent these families from amassing debts for rent and utilities, and to afford groceries and gas.
“The stimulus payments in the CARES Act exclude anyone without a Social Security number,” said LCA Executive Director Brad Porterfield. “Yet millions of immigrant workers who have Individual Tax ID numbers (ITINs) pay taxes like everyone else and deserve financial assistance as jobs are lost and hours cut.”
To help immigrant families pay for rent or mortgage, food, and other essentials, LCA was invited by several Oregon and Washington-based private foundations to pursue mini-grants. This generosity ignited LCA to launch a peer-to-peer online fundraising campaign to ask Central Oregon residents to help out.
The response has been incredible: A couple of foundations and many individuals reached out to LCA to offer no-strings-attached grants and donations. By mid-April, the funding total reached $103,500. Their campaign goal is $150,000.
“With support from generous donors we can deliver financial assistance that will help Latino families in Central Oregon survive this health crisis,” Porterfield said. “We are working with our partners to overcome this emergency and prepare for a brighter future ahead.”
If you would like to contribute to this effort or start a peer-to-peer fundraising page to expand your impact, visit https://latinocommunityassociation.org.
By mid-April, these donors had contributed to LCA’s emergency response:
United Way of Deschutes County - $5,000
Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation - $10,500
MRG Foundation - $10,000
The Ford Family Foundation - $10,000 (for Jefferson and Crook counties)
Central Oregon Health Council - $5,000
M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust - $25,000
Tykeson Family Charitable Trust - $25,000
Individuals and businesses:
Peaces by Lauren - $1,000
Anonymous (single donation) - $10,000
Anonymous (several smaller donations) - $2,000
