COVID-19 swept through our country with a vengeance, taking the lives and stealing the livelihoods of many Arizonans. To help ease some of the burden caused by the pandemic, the Arizona Coalition for Military Families and Be Connected secured grant funding from the Bob Woodward Foundation, in partnership with the National Football League, to provide immediate relief to Arizona’s veterans and their families.

When families didn’t have food in the pantry, Be Connected provided vouchers to purchase the essentials so they could stay nourished and healthy to ward off illness. 

When veterans in northern Arizona didn’t have access to reliable transportation, or could not get outside due to weather, Be Connected rallied volunteer drivers to deliver groceries right to the front door of veterans through a no-contact service called Be Connected: Door-to-Door.

When the rent was due, but the household lost income due to shutdowns and downturns in business related to the pandemic, Be Connected provided direct assistance for rent and utilities. 

When it was difficult and dangerous to be out of the house to secure firewood for fuel and heat on the Hopi and Navajo reservations, Be Connected delivered a dump truckload of firewood so families could haul away their share to stay warm throughout the winter. 

These are just some of the many ways that the Healthy Lifestyles and Creating Community grant funding partnership was able to fund these Be Connected programs that provided direct COVID-19 relief to veterans and their families in Arizona.