The United Way of Pennsylvania recently released a survey which gives the first snapshot of how individual households have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the survey shows that contracting the virus is the top concern for most Pennsylvanians, a significant portion of respondents also have struggled to provide for their basic needs, maintain work and access child care and remote learning.

The UWP conducted a two-week COVID-19 Impact Survey in August to assess the financial and household burdens that the pandemic has caused on our state’s families that resulted in over 1,700 responses from 61 counties, all income levels and both urban and rural representation.

“United Way hopes these survey results will inform policymakers, advocates and community leaders as we work toward recovery and a prosperous future for all Pennsylvanians,” said Kristen Rotz, President of United Way of PA and Executive Director of PA 211.

Area food pantries have been bombarded with the demand brought on by the pandemic, according to Karena Thek, director of the West End Food Pantry in Kunkletown,

“We are seeing a heightened number of new clients visit the West End Food Pantry each distribution; many of them having to visit a food pantry for the first time in their life,” Thek said. “As some insist our economy is rebounding swiftly, we are seeing quite the opposite with low-income families struggling more than ever.”

Though its numbers have leveled out, the demand is still high, according to Barb Brader, co-director of the Christian Action Council of Palmerton Area Churches.

“Our numbers doubled (in March and April),” Brader said. “We’ve leveled out; we’re still a third above normal.”

However, Brader said that CACPAC was able to make ends meet due to the contributions of many.

“We were able to get toilet paper, paper towels, shampoos, soaps,” she said. “We got these through different businesses.”

Brader said the pantry has been blessed with many individuals and businesses throughout the community who generously aided the cause.

“A lot of seniors were able to get milk, bread and eggs, and they were really afraid,” she said. “We can’t spend government money on any of that stuff; we can only spend government money on nutritional food.”

Brader said the pantry was especially careful with how it handled its volunteers early on in the pandemic.

“We have a lot of elderly volunteers, and we had to tell them to stay home,” she said. “And people wanted to help, but we kind of kept it with our small group of volunteers.”

Brader said they had to start doing everything via drive-thru.

“It’s actually worked out really well for the volunteers,” she said. “I know the people that come for the food, they absolutely love it; they feel safe.”

When asked what COVID-19 issue their households are most concerned with, the top concern for all respondents was the risk of a family member contracting COVID-19. The top concern for low- to middle-income households is paying for housing expenses. Fifty-two percent of these households were somewhat or very concerned about eviction and foreclosure, and 77% of low- to middle-income households can pay their bills with their savings for a month or less.

Food access issues are another predominant concern of survey respondents:

• 21% of respondents received food from a food bank or pantry

• 52% of respondents experienced being unable to find as much food as they needed to purchase for their household.

• 31% of respondents experienced being unable to afford the amount or kind of food needed for their household.

“United Way would like to remind all Pennsylvanians who are struggling to provide for their families’ basic needs that PA 211 is a one-stop call for help,” Rotz said. “But please reach out for assistance as soon as possible. Do not wait until eviction or utility shut off are imminent, because our community partners need time to determine eligibility and connect you to emergency resources if you qualify.”

Rotz said anyone can dial 211, text their ZIP code to 898-211, or search for resources at www.pa211.org.

Child care and remote learning are also top of mind for Pennsylvanians.

• 33% of respondents listed child care, education, and remote learning as a concern. The top concerns of households with children included helping children with remote learning, juggling work and children’s needs, and internet access.

• 35% of respondents indicated that they have reduced their hours or at work or quit a job due to child care issues since March 1. Only half of the sample said that child care had no impact on their household members’ ability to work.

“Public investment to support accessible, affordable high-quality child care is essential to help our economy recover from the pandemic,” Rotz said. “Many parents do not get to choose to work from home or step away from a career to care for children during a pandemic. We need safe child care to be ready and available for every phase of the recovery.”

For more information about COVID-19 pandemic resources, visit www.uwp.org.

UWP is a statewide membership organization located in Harrisburg which advocates on behalf of United Way public policy priorities.