{"id":2458325,"date":"2020-05-12T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-12T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/?p=325591"},"modified":"2020-05-12T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-05-12T06:00:00","slug":"giving-thought-public-private-partnerships-strengthen-pandemic-response","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/giving-thought-public-private-partnerships-strengthen-pandemic-response\/","title":{"rendered":"Giving Thought: Public-private partnerships strengthen pandemic response"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

<\/p>

Tamara Tormohlen<\/strong>
Steve Mundinger<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Cities and towns in the Roaring Fork Valley are the latest entities to step forward with help for local individuals and families suffering from the impact of the coronavirus.<\/p>\n

Last month, we reported the creation of the 2020 Rescue Fund by a group of Aspen philanthropists. Now I\u2019m happy to announce that the municipal governments of Aspen, Basalt and Carbondale each have committed thousands of dollars to nonprofit providers of financial assistance, food, mental health counseling and other services to people whose lives and livelihoods have been derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

Throughout the Aspen-to-Parachute region, people have been pushed out of work and into financial crisis. Working families that have never sought economic help now find themselves searching for money to pay their rent or put food on the table. For the past two months, organizations such as Aspen Family Connections, Food Bank of the Rockies, LIFT-UP and Valley Meals and more have distributed food to hundreds of individuals and families. The crisis also is taking an emotional toll, fraying the nerves of adults and children who are separated from their friends and coworkers and deeply worried about the future.<\/p>\n

The city of Aspen donated $200,000 in mid-April to the Aspen Community Foundation\u2019s COVID-19 Regional Response Fund, in order to help people from Aspen to Parachute reckon with the myriad impacts of the pandemic. This, coupled with a matching grant from a private donor, was allocated to Pitkin County\u2019s COVID economic assistance fund. Last week, the city followed up with an additional $250,000 for economic assistance, mental health services and legal aid for workers outside the city and county.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Support Local Journalism<\/h3>\n