United Way announces $2m assistance effort

United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley announced $2 million in emergency assistance to individuals and families in need of food, heat, and other basics.

The money will distributed through roughly 25 regional health and human services agencies, United Way said.

“Because of the strength of our network, we realized early on that United Way was in a unique position to lead a wide-scale, swift, and efficient response to the rapidly rising need in our communities,” Michael K. Durkin, president and chief executive officer of United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, said in a statement. “We have an important responsibility to keep as many people as possible from homelessness, utility shut-off, and other financial crises, and we have been working around the clock to do so.”

According to a press release issued by the local United Way chapter, Durkin made his announcement at Boston City Hall press conference attended by Mayor Thomas M. Menino.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)