Individuals seeking help in times of emergency should dial 2-1-1 for access to direct services.
Disaster Relief
It is in times of need that we discover the full impact of a community united.
United Way is committed to investing in critical basic needs services. This includes raising and deploying funds effectively during times of emergency. The United Way Disaster Relief Fund proactively supports response and recovery in instances of natural disaster and community crises that affect individuals and families below the ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed) threshold in Kalamazoo County and/or greater Battle Creek. All dollars stay local.
COVID-19 ACTIVATION UPDATE
As of October 2021, United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region has distributed all of the Disaster Relief Fund dollars available for COVID-19 Activations. As a result, we are no longer accepting applications. We will post updates on this page should the Disaster Relief Fund be activated in the future.
How to help
Additional resources
Responding to COVID-19: Phase Two
2-1-1 Call Center
Our partners at Gryphon Place, which runs the 2-1-1 program, have been a critical resource for our Battle Creek and Kalamazoo communities throughout the pandemic.
From March 5 through May 18, Gryphon Place received more than 13,000 2-1-1 calls. Around 30% were tracked as COVID-19 related, although that number is probably higher because not all callers make the distinction.
Explore the Michigan 2-1-1 dashboard below to learn more about how Gryphon Place and other 2-1-1 call centers around the state are responding to the crisis.
History
The Disaster Relief Fund was established after a pair of earlier relief efforts – the Help Now Fund and Flood Relief Fund. These were launched, respectively, in response to a mass shooting that impacted the region in 2016 and historic flooding in Kalamazoo in 2018. The two efforts alone raised more than $615,000 thanks to generous support of individuals, corporate donors and philanthropic partners. Funds were rapidly invested to address needs.