By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
A Hays company is giving Hays residents an opportunity to show their community pride and help the United Way COVID-19 Relief Fund.
Jodi Brazda of Blue Feather Design Group in Hays is taking orders for T-shirts. All of the proceeds will go to the United Way.
"I thought my husband is still working, and I am working at my job full time," Brazda said. "There are so many people who are not working and are not able to feed their kids with the school program shut down. I felt strongly. I felt this was a perfect means to do something that could be substantial.
"The community has rallied around so well. I am so excited about it," she said.
The United Way Community Relief Fund is providing $500 mini-grants to Ellis County nonprofits that need extra funding to operate their agencies or provide assistance in the community related to COVID-19, said Erica Berges, United Way of Ellis County executive director.
The Untied Way has raised $7,650 and has distributed $2,494 in grants. Some of the agencies funded thus far have included First Call for Help, which has seen an increase in requests for food from its food pantry, and KVC, which is using the funding to purchase additional cleaning supplies to keep its patients safe, Berges said.
Berges said she anticipates the need for the relief funds will increase as the governor's moratorium on evictions and utility shutoffs ends.
You can still donate directly to the United Way COVID-19 Relief Fund through its webpage. Click on the COVID-19 Response and Resources link. There is a donate button on the COVID-19 page as well as a link to the mini-grant application form.
The T-shirts are available in six colors in both youth and adult sizes. There are two style options — "Hays Strong" and "Believe There is Still Good in the World."
Pre-orders for shirts are due Friday. They can be done by commenting, size, style and color to the Blue Feather Design Facebook group.
Brazda will send you an email invoice, which can be paid with cash, check or via PayPal or Venmo.
The T-shirts will be distributed via no-contact delivery within one to two weeks.