NEW YORK (April 28, 2020) -- National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial today commended federal officials who heeded the League’s call to adjust regulations so more mid-sized cities can be eligible for relief.

Hundreds went to bed last weekend with a full stomach thanks to generous efforts from the Columbus Urban League (Columbus, OH), COTA, and Bob Evans.

Lines were wrapped around the Urban League building Saturday, as people waited for the free meal kits from Bob Evans.

"We know how great the need is. The disparities as you know for African Americans and people of color, communities of color, are greater right now," said Stephanie Hightower, President of the Columbus Urban League.

The thirty-pound kits were packed together and delivered to the Urban League by COTA. "It means a lot to be able to even be a helping hand. Even in transportation," said Brandy Tolber, the Senior Administrator Assistant for the Chief of Innovation for COTA.

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Food insecurity has been a major problem for families experiencing financial loss as a result of COVID-19.

The Indianapolis Urban League (Indianapolis, IN) is doing its part to make sure Hoosiers are fed.

Starting Tuesday, food boxes will be available for the first 500 families who come through the drive-up food box distribution in the parking lot of Indianapolis Urban League, 777 Indiana Avenue.

The Indianapolis Urban League is partnering with several organizations, including Gleaners Food Bank, to make it happen.

The distribution will operate by social distancing guidelines, so volunteers will be placing items into vehicles. Officials said the process shouldn’t take longer than five minutes but asks that people have a little patience as they are expected a large turnout.

McDonald's franchisees in the St. Louis area will deliver more than $45,000 worth of food to the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis (St. Louis, Mo) to be distributed to people in need.

The food will be dropped off at 2 p.m. April 28 at the Urban League's storage area on Jennings Station Road, according to a press release.

The donation from the McDonald's of Metro St. Louis Co-Op includes frozen beef steaks, chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cookies, cheese and salad dressings.

The food will be distributed at the Urban League's upcoming food and toiletries giveaway at Old Jamestown Mall, on May 2 from noon-3 p.m.

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Census Day 2020 came April 1. The global coronavirus pandemic was worsening. It had already forced social and economic shutdowns across America.

Since then, all the major African-American community-based organizations, political leaders and other advocates in California — concerned that there may be an undercount of Black Californians during the 2020 census count — have found themselves grappling.

Under a statewide shelter in place order, those groups have been working overtime, rejiggering outreach strategies from a boots-on-the-ground game to expanding online get-the-word-out campaigns — most of their social media content identifiable by the hashtag #MakeBlackCount.

Their goal, leaders say, is to ensure every Black household in California accurately completes its 2020 Census form.

Their hard work is paying off.

The Milwaukee Urban League or MUL (Milwaukee, WI) will launch its Munch & Learn initiative, a MUL outreach program that provides MUL Power Paks to students and families at Oliver Wendell (O.W.) Holmes School and Auer Avenue School. The purpose of Munch & Learn is to support students and families at O.W. Holmes and Auer Avenue, by providing snacks to fuel student learning at home, along with educational activity ideas and vital employment opportunities for the families. Power Pak Bags will be filled with non-perishable snack items, student activities, and hygiene products. In addition, Power Paks will include 10@10 (10 activities for children to do at 10am). School staff will also distribute information on MUL employment opportunities to parents. Power Paks will be distributed as families pick up laptops and other school materials needed during the state-sanctioned quarantine due to COVID-19.

Watch the latest. Marc Morial is back with key info and resources to help you navigate COVID-19. Check out the Facebook Live video and visit our online hub. | New COVID-19 package. This week, Congress passed a new relief bill that includes items we advocated for. Here's what's in the package and how it could help you. | Make Black Count. Babies and children count, too! Take 10 minutes or less to fill out your 2020 Census form online and count everyone living in your home. | Help for small businesses. Our partner Goldman Sachs has developed support and resources for small business leaders during these uncertain times. Take a look. | Virtual graduations. Coronavirus has forced many schools to cancel graduations but the Urban League of the Upstate still plans to celebrate students. See how! | Inside scoop. Check out our D.C. office's round up of the latest coronavirus news. Plus, handy infographics that show the scope of COVID-19's impact. 

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League
 
“The story of minority-owned businesses struggling to access capital is the story of banking practices that too often exclude people of color as potential customers. A federally guaranteed loan program must not do the same.” – Letter to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Small Business Administration head Jovita Carranza from 23 Senators

The $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program established by Congress earlier this month was supposed to help sustain small businesses imperiled by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The money ran out in less than two weeks.

Then we found out  that the vast majority of the funding -- $243.4 million – went to huge, publicly-traded companies instead of legitimate small businesses.