Katie Longbrake, Executive Director of WUMCO Help, Inc. joined us to talk about the mission of this local non-profit that is the officially designated emergency assistance provider for Poolesville, Barnesville, Beallsville, Boyds, and Dickerson.
With the increase in need since the advent of COVID 19, WUMCO has shifted more into Case Management, providing limited financial assistance for medical and dental emergencies, rent, mortgage, utilities, and car repair. WUMCO also provides fresh, frozen and staple foods, toiletries, cleaning products and transportation to appointments for their clients.
Last year WUMCO distributed 30,000 pounds of food and their volunteers drove 2,555 miles for clients. With many COVID supports expiring, WUMCO is facing an even greater need as it readies for the move to their bigger facility at United Memorial Methodist Church. WUMCO has also taken on a grant-funded research project investigating the causes of the poor health outcomes in Poolesville that were reflected in an earlier county survey.
Katie expressed gratitude to the local supporters and members of WUMCO, and thanked them for their donations of time, money, and food. We were reminded to please drop off any staple food donations at the WUMCO collection box at Drs. Pike and Valega’s office. Fresh produce can be donated at the cold storage facility at Locals in Poolesville. Donations are also accepted during office hours at WUMCO.
Volunteers are always needed to help provide transportation to clients’ medical appointments. WUMCO memberships are encouraged to sustain the much-needed effort.
You can support WUMCO as well as Poolesville businesses and business owners on WUMCO Wednesdays when a portion of your food order income is donated to WUMCO by the Mexican Grill in Poolesville on the first Wednesday of the month; and at the Rio Grande Grill in Germantown on the third Wednesday of the month.