Families feeling the strain from the coronavirus pandemic began lining up outside East St. Louis High School early Friday morning hoping to be among the 1,500 to receive a care package of food and healthcare staples.

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. (St. Louis, MO held its third large food and supply giveaway for the St. Louis region. Volunteers distributed care packages containing fresh produce, milk, dried and canned goods, toiletries and fruit to St. Clair County families.

Their next event is planned for Friday, April 24 in Madison County. Logistics for the giveaway are still being planned.

As data emerges on the spectrum of symptoms caused by COVID-19, it's clear that people with chronic health conditions are being hit harder.

While many people experience mild illness, 89% of people with COVID-19 who were sick enough to be hospitalized had at least one chronic condition. About half had high blood pressure and obesity, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And about a third had diabetes and a third had cardiovascular disease. So, what explains this?

Are you in need of a new job? Join us for a supportive and educational session where you'll learn the strategies for a successful job search after experiencing a lay-off, with guest speaker JT O'Donnell. 

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Amid reports that massive restaurant chains and businesses that continue to operate received funds intended for small businesses shuttered by the coronavirus pandemic, the National Urban League today demanded the next legislative package include specific funding pools for legitimate small businesses truly threatened by the crisis.

NEW YORK (April 17, 2020) -- Across the nation, Urban League affiliates are providing essential services to workers and families devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a partnership with the National Urban League, Lyft is helping them get where they need to be by providing ride codes that the National Urban League and its affiliates will be able to distribute to essential workers and families all over the country.
 

NEW YORK (April 18, 2020) -- National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial today thanked a group of 33 Senators for responding to the League’s plea for dedicated, flexible funding for state and local governments in the next COVID-19 emergency funding package.

The latest. Marc Morial is back with updates on the fight against COVID-19. Watch it now on Facebook Live and visit our COVID-19 hub online. | We're here for you. See how our first responders are giving out groceries and hot meals, helping laid-off workers pay rent, advocating in Congress, and more. | Need a new job? Join us for a supportive and educational session where you'll learn strategies for a successful job search after experiencing a lay-off. | Be counted. It’s not too late to fill out the Census 2020. It’s just 10 questions and only takes 10 minutes (or less). Do it online or by mail today! | Black girl magic. Meet Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, the Black woman doctor who is leading efforts to develop a coronavirus vaccine.v | Inside scoop. Check out our D.C. office's round up of the latest coronavirus news, including the status of stimulus checks and an interview with Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

By Maia Spoto and Jacob Fulton, The Daily Northwestern

Once a decade, the U.S. government attempts to count all Americans — but not every American is easy to reach, and an undercount can have enduring consequences for those the government misses.

The United States Census Bureau defines hard-to-count communities as those who face barriers to inclusion in census counts, including communities of color, those experiencing homelessness, immigrants, LGBTQ communities and the elderly.

To read the full article Click Here.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League
 

“Until government is able to stand up the benefits that are included in the CARES Act and Families First Act, people in the meantime have to live, that's really the challenge. The Urban League and other non-profits are here to support people and get them connected to what they need. People have to know they can call a number and someone on the other end is going to care what they're experiencing.” -- Urban League of Greater Atlanta President and CEO Nancy Flake Johnson.

It’s hard to believe the toll the coronavirus pandemic has taken on the economy, and even harder to describe. At least 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment compensation in the last four weeks.  It’s the largest and fastest string of job losses since the nation began keeping records in 1948.  

The unemployment rate has soared to 20 percent, the highest rate since the Great Depression.