Bucks County COVID-19 Recovery Fund, established in March by United Way of Bucks County with additional funding from Penn Community Bank, has awarded a $20,000 grant to Libertae.
Libertae provides long-term residential, halfway house and outpatient services. The Bensalem-based nonprofit is one of the few programs dedicated solely to treating and supporting women with substance use disorders.
Although the agency took all necessary steps to prepare for COVID-19, including reducing its census and implementing preventative measures, individuals in its community tested positive for the illness.
CEO Nancy Wolf took immediate and decisive action, including bringing in 24/7 nursing care for those who tested positive.
“We are committed to our clients and delivery of care, top to bottom. We did what we needed to do to keep our clients and our staff safe,” Wolf said. “That included limiting contact, preventing spread, and providing round-the-clock care for those who tested positive.”
Wolf noted that the youngest patient to test positive at the site was only a few months old, and that several members of the Libertae community have underlying health conditions.
“Managing the outbreak and now the aftermath is incredibly difficult,” Wolf said. “This has really impacted us in so many ways, including financially. But my hope is that we are all able to learn from this experience, and share what we have learned with others so we will all be better moving forward.”
In addition to their work keeping their community physically healthy, she and her team continue to provide services that keep clients emotionally connected – and connected to their recovery work.
“During my stay at Libertae, my premature son and I contracted COVID. I am grateful we were at Libertae during this pandemic. The medical care we received from the nursing team while we were in isolation was amazing and there honestly is no other place I would have rather been,” explained a Libertae client, whose name is withheld for privacy.
Marissa Christie, United Way of Bucks County’s president and CEO, is on the committee that reviews grant applications.
“Supporting Libertae’s fight against COVID was an easy decision,” she said. “They do incredible work year-round, but their work right now is above and beyond. The grant committee was so impressed by everything they did to keep their people safe during a difficult time.”
Since its inception, the COVID-19 Recovery Fund has provided more than 30 grants, totaling over $180,000, to dozens of local nonprofits serving people impacted by COVID-19. All grants focus on life-sustaining and essential human services. To learn more about the programs and services provided by these agencies, visit uwbucks.org/covidgrantswork.
United Way of Bucks County Member Agencies will continue to submit grant applications on a rolling basis. Applications are reviewed by a panel of business and nonprofit leaders. Payments are released immediately to ensure that people who experience a financial crisis due to COVID-19 get help quickly.
In addition to more than 600 individual, local donors, Penn Community Bank, Dow, BB&T (now Truist), Janssen, PECO, Foundations Community Partnership, Bucks County Foundation, Hallett Charitable Foundation, Barra Foundation, Grundy Foundation, Fegley Law Firm, Shoprite of Hunterdon County, Vistra Energy, Wells Fargo, Bucks County Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., 100+ Women Who Care Bucks County, and the Residents of Ann’s Choice support the fund.
Additional funds are badly needed. Donations can be made at uwbucks.org/COVIDrecovery or by mailing a check to United Way of Bucks County, 413 Hood Blvd., Fairless Hills, PA 19030, with “COVID recovery” in the memo line.
