January 19, 2021 3:45 a.m.

The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as local wildfires, created an unprecedented need for services provided by the United Community Action Network in 2020.

UCAN Executive Director Shaun Pritchard said the nonprofit rapidly adjusted service delivery approaches to meet the need, while protecting the safety and well-being of their staff. Some highlights included:

*Feeding Umpqua distributed approximately 2 million pounds of food to local pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters and shelter homes in the county. That met the needs of an average of 16,392 residents per month.

*UCAN kept 780 households stably housed with rent assistance, meeting the housing needs of 3,460 residents in the region.

*2,210 households, including 4,480 residents, received help to reduce their energy costs

*Homeless services helped 380 individuals, including over 200 veterans, meeting short and long-term shelter needs.

*Early Childhood Services offered Head Start to 643 children ages 6 weeks through 4 years old. Children in the program received education while having their nutritional, developmental and health needs met.

Pritchard said UCAN also provided some new services to meet new or additional needs. Emergency childcare was offered to frontline workers. A Baby Bounty program was started, through which parents of infants could obtain free diapers or wipes and other essential hygiene and safety supplies. Several programs, including the early childhood programs and nutrition programs, turned to offering kits that could be delivered to those in need at home or other locations, like Farmer’s Markets.

To learn more about UCAN, go to: http://www.ucancap.org