United Against Hunger - Urgent Needs Community Grants

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Storm Response Grants

for Washington County, MD Residents

 

On April 19, 2025, severe storms swept through Washington County, MD, bringing hurricane-force winds that downed trees, damaged power lines, and destroyed properties. Thousands of residents in our community found themselves without power, and the outage lasted several days for many.

A power outage can lead to significant food spoilage and loss, as refrigeration is crucial for keeping food at safe temperatures. Consequently, perishable items like meat, poultry, fish, and leftovers should be discarded.

For individuals and families already facing financial difficulties, a prolonged power outage can result in serious long-term consequences that many may not fully understand. For instance, a senior citizen with diabetes may find themselves without food to maintain their blood sugar levels. Similarly, a child with a delicate medical condition might be unable to take necessary medications due to a breach in the required cold chain storage.

The United Way of Washington County acknowledges that many in our community have faced financial hardships as a result of this event. Thanks to the generous support of VerStandig Media, we are excited to announce the launch of our United Against Hunger Storm Response grant. These mini-grants are designed to ease the burden for our ALICE* community, who must replace and restock both perishable and non-perishable food items following the storm.

Who is ALICE*?

ALICE* is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. ALICE lives paycheck to paycheck, earning just above the Federal Poverty Level and struggles to afford basic expenses while living on a modest household survival budget. 43% of Washington County residents are ALICE. For more information to determine grant eligibility, please go to "Who is Eligible?" section below. 

Attention: Residents Receiving SNAP Benefits

If you are a Washington County resident who receives SNAP (food stamp) benefits and have experienced food loss due to the power outage from the recent storm, please contact Washington County DHS at 1-800-332-6347 or stop by their office at 122 N. Potomac Street in Hagerstown. WCDHS can reissue your SNAP benefits for the month of April (up to the full amount you received), you simply need to sign and submit a form stating that you have lost your food and the dollar amount of food lost (to the best of your knowledge). Residents receiving SNAP benefits will not be eligible for the Storm Response grant. 

 

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Additional Community Resources

If you, your family, or someone you know is in need, there are a number of community organizations that assist with food, clothing, and shelter. You are not alone and there is help available. 

The Hagerstown Area Religious Council has numerous resources listed on their website. We have included a few web links below so that individuals seeking assistance can have the most up to date information at their fingertips! 

To qualify, applicants must: 

  • Be a resident of Washington County, MD.
  • Be at least 18 years of age. 
  • Meet the ALICE* criteria (proof of income/employment is required).
  • Live in affected area of power outage that lasted 12 hours or more.
  • Complete and submit the Storm Response Grant Application form with supporting documentation which includes:
    • Proof of address (Utility bill, bank statement, rental/lease agreement, letter from the IRS or other government agency, etc.)
    • Income verification (Pay stubs, W-2 forms, or most recent tax return, etc.)

ALICE* stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. It's a term used to describe households that earn above the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) but not enough to afford a basic, bare-bones household budget. Essentially, these families are working but struggling to make ends meet. These households have income that does not allow them to receive public assistance, such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-formerly known as "Food Stamps").  

  • Asset Limited: These households may have limited financial assets or savings. 
  • Income Constrained: Their income is not sufficient to cover the costs of essential needs. 
  • Employed: They are working and contributing to the economy, but their earnings are not enough to meet their basic needs. 

Please note that this grant is for residents in our community who meet the ALICE* criteria. Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements, including employment status.

  • Proof of income and address are required and must be included with the application submission.
  • Power outage will be verified with utility company. 
  • Requests submitted after business hours or on weekends/holidays will be received and reviewed on the next business day.  
  • Please allow 48 hours for United Way of Washington County to process your application.
  • Applicants will be notified by email and/or phone of grant approval amount up to $200. 

 

To apply for the Storm Response grant, please complete the webform below, attach the required documentation, sign and click "submit"

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Income Sources (select all that apply):
By checking this box, you are agreeing to our terms of service. 
You understand and certify that:
  • You have answered all questions truthfully.
  • You have submitted all documents requested and that they are accurate. 
  • You understand that United Way of Washington County, Maryland (“Agency”) utilizes a data management tool to collect information. This allows for information to be entered once, reducing the number of times a client must continue to provide personal information. Collected information includes, but is not limited to first name, last name, date of birth, race, ethnicity, income, benefits, disabilities, and other identifying information. This information will be used to help access and obtain the most appropriate services. The Agency has an interagency sharing agreement with the collaborating agency or agencies regarding clients that are served by such agencies. All participating agencies have an agreement regarding security protocol on protection and sharing of client data. United Way of Washington County may also use your non-identified information for reporting requirements
  • No information will be released without signed client consent or by a court-ordered warrant.The client has the right to have their information removed, and may refuse to answer any question,    unless entry into a program requires it.
  • Information that is transferred over the web is done through a secure and encrypted connection.
  • United Way of Washington County may use the internet or email to inform clients of available services.
  • United Way of Washington County and its community partners protect client information and only use information for case management services and service planning.     
  • Unted Way of Washington County will uphold Federal and State confidentiality regulations to records and privacy.
  • United Way of Washington County will not solicit or input information from clients unless essential to meet minimum data requirements, provide services, or conduct evaluations or research.
  • United Way of Washington County may not use any client personal information for marketing purposes.
  • You have the right to request information about who has viewed or updated your file.
  • You have a right to receive a copy of this Consent Form.
By consenting to this agreement, you authorize the United Way of Washington County, Maryland:
  • To share your intake information with collaborating agencies to be used for referrals and coordination of services.
  • To provide basic demographic information, residential, employment/income, military, and service needs.
  • To allow your information to be shared electronically via a secure, encrypted, web-based system to the collaborating agencies.
  • To allow your records and information to be shared for a period of no greater than three years (3) from today’s date.
**Please submit all required documentation so that we may process your application**
  1. Proof of address may be a utility bill, bank statement, rental/lease agreement, letter from the IRS or other government agency, etc.
  2. Income verification may be pay stubs, W-2 forms, most recent tax return, Social Security benefits, etc. 
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