Senator Mitch McConnell has worked tirelessly to ensure Kentucky families, frontline heroes, schools, and all businesses have access to much-needed rescue funds to remain afloat despite the impacts of the pandemic.
Isaiah House, an addiction treatment center in Kentucky, is one organization helped by Senator McConnell’s efforts. Isaiah House founder and CEO Mark La Palme recently took to the opinion pages of the Lexington Herald-Leader to thank Senator McConnell for CARES Act rescue funds, which allowed the nonprofit to continue serving roughly 300 men and women across Kentucky.
In case you missed it, here is what Mark La Palme had to say:
“When COVID -19 first reared its ugly head in early March, we had to make drastic plans to keep our doors open. We were losing vital donations and opportunities to fundraise as well as our social enterprises losing business because of the mandated shutdowns and concerns for our health. More than 100 of our clients in transitional living lost their jobs on the same day. What were we supposed to do with them? ‘Kick them to the curb’ or send them home?
“No—we needed to keep them engaged to their recovery community, feed, house and clothe them. So, the pressures and the demand for what we do were all increased by near 40 percent. We had to equip many of our staff and their homes for telehealth. We had to over stock on PPE equipment of masks, gloves, gowns, cleaning supplies as well as food. Serving 500 hot meals a day as food was now in short supply. We had to purchase three new commercial freezers just to hold the chicken and hamburger whose prices were doubling. In a short four to five months, we had lost roughly $1 million in funding as well as increased spending.
“The original SBA P3 loan was proposed to exclude nonprofits like Isaiah House. There is no doubt in my mind that not only would 300 plus people have lost their source of treatment but 200 plus people would have lost their jobs had it not been for Leader Mitch McConnell and his team intervening on our behalf. It was Mitch McConnell who listened to our plea and fought the battle in the House and Senate to make the changes that saved tens of thousands of lives and hundreds of thousands of jobs.
“Having our Senator as the Majority Leader changed the outcome, period. […]
“I, for one, am grateful first for what has been done and done through the effective leadership of Mitch McConnell. Is there more to do? Yes, but can we take a moment and thank those responsible for keeping our doors open, our staff employed and assisting those who need us the most.
“I don’t know who will be Senator of this great state in 2021 but I do know this if it wasn’t Mitch McConnell in 2020 more people would have died and lost their jobs. If he wasn’t the Senate Majority leader who was moved by compassion, then Isaiah House would not been able to keep our doors open and our clients in treatment.”