ORLANDO, Fla. – The Heart of Florida United Way said their assistance hotline has been flooded with calls from workers who were laid off in the Orlando area seeking help amid the spread of the coronavirus.
President and CEO Jeff Hayward said the 211 hotline usually sees around 700 calls each day. By 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the hotline had taken 2,400 calls. "I think we need to acknowledge right now that these are unprecedented times," Hayward said.
He said many of the callers were seeking financial assistance, while others had questions about the coronavirus. He said his agency has established the ALICE Recovery Fund (asset limited, income constrained and employed).