United Way director to give presentation in DC

CLOVIS – The executive director of the United Way of Eastern New Mexico (UWENM) on Friday is scheduled to give a presentationat the White House in Washington, D.C., on the benefits to 375 eastern New Mexico families of $88,503 in federal COVID-19 relief funds through the UWENM since 2020.

Erinn Burch, UWENM's executive director, stated in a news release that she will be among local elected officials and community leaders from New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado attending the Friday gathering at the White House.

Burch stated in a news release that the purpose of the gathering will be "to highlight how Biden-Harris administration initiatives are positively impacting their regions."

The gathering, Burch said, will also showcase the Biden administration's "Communities in Action: Building a Better America" effort.

The $88,503 in allocations from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the American Rescue Plan Act has allowed the UWENM to help prevent evictions and power shutoffs and keep "local housing network from experiencing financial upheaval from each disruption of the past two years," Burch stated in the news release.

The investments also helped prop up landlords, property management companies, utilities, maintenance contractors and others during COVID-19 shutdowns, Burch added.