CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cuyahoga County has plans to help people who have lost jobs due to COVID-19 closures. Officials are also asking the public to pitch in with supplies for our health care first responders.

  • A new donation collection point has been opened in Newburgh Heights
  • The donation point is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 
  • United Way of Greater Cleveland is experiencing between 10- to 20-minute wait times for its 211 service during busy hours

Those on the front lines battling coronavirus, like Cuyahoga County Medical Director Dr. Heidi Gullett, shared a sobering reality of how it’s affecting her family. 
 
"We made the difficult decision to live separately right now. We are one of thousands of health care families who are making these decisions every day. If my husband becomes sick and I’m still living in the same home, and our children are living in the same home, we then have a higher risk for this infection, and we become under quarantine," said Dr. Gullett.  
 
The county is receiving numerous calls a day. People are worried about physical health and their money. ​ 
 
"Within the first few days of the lockdown, we were up to quadrupling the calls. But since then, things have leveled off, but we are still averaging 6,000 calls a week, which is about double the average number of calls we receive in a week,” said Nancy Mendez, United Way of Greater Cleveland's vice president of community impact.  
 
She says people who call 211 are asking for assistance with food and meal help, income, housing, utility assistance and health care. She says the 24/7 service can be helpful while waiting to receive unemployment benefits.  
 
“Government is overwhelmed at this point with the number of people calling in, so where our 211 help link plays a role is that for a temporary basis, these individuals could find a meal, find food, until they can eventually have those government and federal dollars.”  
 
Healthcare workers are also getting some backup. Residents are bringing supplies that hospital workers need must have to fight and prevent COVID-19 to the donation site. 
 
"If you look at a place like New York, they are way short of protective equipment, and it’s becoming catastrophic. We here in Cleveland right now, our hospitals are doing okay with protective equipment, but we’re going to need a lot more," said County Executive Armond Buddish.  
 
United Way of Greater Cleveland has expanded the amount of counties it serves. It now serves Allen, Belmont, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lawrence, Medina, Ross Coshocton, Crawford, Darke, Erie, Huron, Van Wert and Wyandot.