United Way of Collier and the Keys awards $25,000 to Goodwill SWFL's community services

NAPLES, Fla. - June 23, 2020 - PRLog -- When COVID-19 hit, over 42,000 Collier County households were one emergency away from financial ruin.  These are hardworking yet struggling hourly workers who have little or no savings and are financially vulnerable to the impact made by the COVID-19 crisis. The Project ALICE Grant was designed to support the many Collier residents who live paycheck to paycheck and typically earn less than $56,000 for a family of four. Many of these families are those impacted the most.

The United Way of Collier and the Keys awarded $25,000 to Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida (SWFL) to assist families served by The Project ALICE Grant in Collier County. This award will provide employment assistance, digital skills training and connect these families with community resources.

ALICE workers play essential roles in our local economy, maintaining our infrastructure, educating our children and caring for our seniors. Some are in the front lines caring for COVID-19 patients. Yet many ALICE workers do not have basic employee protections - such as an annual salary, affordable health care, and access to other benefits that would help them withstand the COVID-19 crisis. Half of all jobs across the county are paid by the hour, and most ALICE workers don't get paid if a store or restaurant is closed, or an event is cancelled.

"We are providing free, accessible services, connections to basic community resources and upskilling to help individuals and families break the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck," states Fred Richards, Goodwill SWFL VP of Community Support Services.  "Through our productive and beneficial partnership with United Way of Collier County, we can provide individuals with the tools and resources they need to transition from a household survival budget to a sustainable, stability budget thereby overcoming barriers to independence."

The United Way of Collier and the Keys is committed to investing in and working to create a community where all individuals and families in Collier and Monroe Counties have an opportunity to thrive and achieve their full potential. Working together with non-profit partner agencies like Goodwill SWFL, they address community needs.

Goodwill SWFL Community Services for Collier County are available at the Naples Towne Center and through the Mobile Job-Link. For more information on Goodwill services, visit www.goodwillswfl.org.