Local organizations stepping up to help families impacted by COVID-19

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.(WTXL) — It's no secret families have been struggling during the pandemic.

And unfortunately, the help that they were getting from our government and unemployment is set to expire.

Despite these hard times, some the local organizations are preparing to step up to help those families in need.

Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida has been helping families for more than 90 years.

This year, they've spent more than two million dollars and have helped more than 1,800 families enduring hardship due to COVID19.

But with the $600 weekly federal unemployment assistance ending this weekend, Executive Director Matthew Knee says they've had to raise and set aside about $60,000 to help keep families afloat.

"We're very blessed to raise a decent amount of money it may seem like a large amount to an individual but we will break it down by families and how much it's still going to meet, it's still a drop in the bucket for the knee that we're going to see in our communities," said Knee.

And they're not the only organization in the blessing business.

Parishioners at the Good Shepard Catholic Parish of Tallahassee have been stuffing the bus to get household staples into the community, particularly as they anticipate needs spiking like they saw when The pandemic first started.

"That's certainly one of the main reason's its more important this year than ever because there are so many unemployed people. In fact the number of people who came to Good News for food in April just skyrocketed and went way up," said Coordinator, Suzanne Prenty.

Both Organizations are depending on generosity from the entire community to get neighbors in need through COVID-19.

"There's a lot of great nonprofits in a big bend area were all very close partners and One agency can't do it alone," said Knee.