$100K to cheer workers
A countywide partnership raised more than $100,000 for 1,000 laid-off workers in the hospitality industry throughout the county.
Jack Cohen, president of the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau, said that $100 Visa gift cards were distributed to employers for their furloughed workers, “so their spirits would also be lifted.”
Cohen said 800 cards would be distributed this week to those who registered for them and the remaining 200 would be distributed before the end of the year.
Cohen said the tourism bureau, county commissioners and Center for Community Resources partnered in the We Care Butler County project to raise money for those whose jobs were affected by Gov. Tom Wolf's second wave of COVID-19 protective mitigation measures put in place Dec. 12. The campaign was announced Dec. 10.
The orders closed restaurants, bars, gyms and many other facilities in an attempt to stem the spread of COVID-19 by preventing mass gatherings. They will remain in effect until Jan. 4.
“We did pretty good,” Cohen said. “Raising $100,000, that's a lot of money.”
He said when the We Care campaign's donation button and explanation appeared on the tourism bureau website, the donations began coming in fast and furious.
“We knew right away that people in this community care about everybody,” Cohen said. “People didn't have to think about it. They knew they had to step up and they did.”
Cohen said he knows many people who work in the hospitality industry, which has been among the hardest-hit professions during the pandemic.
While they are worried about their employment, all say it could be worse, Cohen said.
“Then you hear, 'What's next?'” he said. “It's concerning. Every one of those families need help.”
Regarding the hopeful thought that the appearance of vaccines for COVID-19 could help those employed in the hospitality industry, Cohen estimates it will be mid-summer 2021 before the long-term progress against the virus will be known.
“It's going to be tough for everyone until then,” he said.
Cohen said all the coordinators of the We Care campaign are extremely grateful and humbled by the public's response.
“It has surely touched my soul,” he said.
Leslie Osche, county commissioners chairwoman, agreed with Cohen.
“I think everyone remarkably stepped up to the plate on all fronts, including the municipalities,” she said.
She explained that Butler and Cranberry townships, together with the county, donated a combined $68,000 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds to the We Care campaign.
Osche said Armco Credit Union ordered the Visa gift cards and covered the fees associated with them so recipients would not have to pay them.
“It's time to step up and help this industry that has been tremendously harmed,” she said.
Osche said she was thrilled but not surprised that $100,000 was raised so quickly for the effort, because she recalls county residents unfailingly helping their fellow citizens when a disaster occurred while she was the leader of the local United Way.
“Butler County always steps up to the plate, no matter what happens,” she said. “We knew there would be a good response.”
She said the county's Rotary International clubs were also eager to raise funds for the We Care campaign.
“They asked, 'How can we help? How much do you need?'” Osche said.
She hopes the gift cards provide some measure of comfort, especially during the holiday season.
“We hope this helps a little bit,” Osche said. “It's not even close to the relief these people are going to need, but we hope it tells them that we care.”
