Yancey County Government Coronavirus Information

Yancy County -- Yancy County PRESS RELEASE Yancey County Establishes COVID-19 Response Fund to Support
Non-Profit Organizations During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Funds will be Used to Aid the Most Vulnerable People Throughout the County
For Immediate Release
23 March 2020
Yancey County Government in partnership with the Yancey Advancement Foundation,               
Inc., a 501(c)(3) Community Development Non-Profit affiliated with the Yancey County
Economic Development Commission, today announced the establishment of the “Yancey
County COVID-19 Response Fund” to rapidly deploy resources to community-based nonprofit
organizations in Yancey County who work to address basic needs of those impacted
by coronavirus and the economic consequences of the outbreak. The fund will assist our
important community non-profits to secure the resources they need to serve the most
vulnerable members of the community during this difficult time.
While age and pre-existing health conditions have been reported as greater at-risk factors
for COVID-19 among the general population, school closures, job disruptions, lack of paid
sick leave, the coronavirus’ disproportionate impact on adults age 60 and older, and the
increasing economic burden to our low-income families further contribute to the demands
placed on the non-profits working to meet those needs here in Yancey County.
“With this joint effort our first priority are the individuals, families and seniors who rely on
our local non-profits for essential assistance day in and day out,” said Yancey County
Manager Lynn Austin and Yancey EDC Director Jamie McMahan in a joint statement.
“Our community non-profits are always there to help throughout the year and in times of
disaster. This fund will advance their ability to respond efficiently and effectively in their
communities” added Austin and McMahan, “We cannot do it alone.”
This fund will be administered by the Yancey Advancement Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3)
non-profit established by the Yancey County Economic Development Commission to
promote community development initiatives.
All donations made to the Yancey County COVID-19 Response Fund are 100% tax
deductible and 100% of all donations will be spent to complement the work and expand
local capacity to address all aspects of the outbreak as efficiently as possible during this
difficult time.
All individuals or businesses who wish to partner in this effort may contribute to the fund
in the following ways:
• By mailing a check made payable to the Yancey Advancement Foundation, Inc. to
PO Box 246, Burnsville, NC 28714 with “COVID-19 Response Fund” noted on the
memo line of the check
• By contributing online by accessing the donation button which can be found on the
Yancey County Government website at www.yanceycountync.gov
• By contributing online using the following link in your computer’s web browser
https://tinyurl.com/yaf-covid-19
The Yancey Advancement Foundation will administer grants in partnership with other
Yancey County community funding partners. Together we will proactively identify
potential grant recipients, solicit guidance on potential recipients from community
advisors, and recommend final awards. In order to move resources quickly and not further
burden organizations on the frontlines of the pandemic, we are not hosting a formal
application process at this time. Funds will be released on a rolling basis as fundraising
continues throughout the multiple phases of the crisis, making it possible to move
resources quickly and adapt to evolving needs in subsequent funding phases. The
Foundation expects to make an initial round of grants within the next few weeks.
For further information about the fund feel free to contact Yancey County Manager Lynn
Austin at (828) 682-3971 or via email at Lynn.Austin@yanceycountync.gov or Jamie
McMahan, Yancey EDC Director via phone at (828) 682-7722 or via email at
Jamie.McMahan@yanceycountync.gov

Both Ingles and SaveMore have said they will be open for seniors and folks with compromised immune systems from 7-8 AM on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings starting tomorrow morning, Tuesday, March 23rd at 7AM.
From Samantha Phipps - The Family Violence Coalition of Yancey County will continue to operate our DV/SA shelter during these COVID-19 days of our lives. We have a COVID-19 Protocol that is provisional status right now as I await feedback from the health department. We will do everything in our power to continue to provide our services while keeping our clients, employees, our families, and our community as safe as we can from this new virus.

 For the information below