SUDBURY -- Glencore in Sudbury has donated $40,000 to boost a special fund created by the United Way Centraide North East Ontario.

Dubbed the Local Love in a Global Crisis Community Response Fund, it now totals more than $300,000.

“We are grateful to Glencore and all of our supporters for their generosity and compassion during these uncertain times,” United Way executive director Mary Lou Hussak is quoted as saying in a news release Monday.

“Funds raised through the CRF continue to be deployed to local charitable organizations across the region that are helping to meet the basic needs of people disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.”

Doug Conroy, Glencore's human resources manager who is a United Way board member, said the fund is an excellent way to provide community funding.

"Through years of involvement and partnership with United Way, I witnessed the dedication and hard work of the team," Conroy said. "There is no doubt that the expertise of the staff at the United Way can ensure that the funding is distributed directly to the areas most in need."

Glencore has been a long-time partner of the local United Way, participating in the annual campaign within their operations and as community volunteers. Earlier this year, the company's annual employee match campaign program contributed more than $360,000.

“Many of the emergency grants that have been distributed to date have supported essential needs, including several food-based initiatives, personal care products, cleansers and PPE," Hussak said. "We are thankful to our corporate partners and donors for making this work possible now and in the coming months, as needs evolve.”

This is Glencore’s second donation to the fund. In April, Glencore Kidd Operations donated $50,000 to support COVID-19 relief efforts in Timmins.

The community response fund provides emergency grants to local charitable organizations working to meet the basic needs of individuals disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19). The fund will be distributed through community-based organizations that are registered charities delivering local programs.

Charitable organizations wishing to learn more about available funding opportunities are encouraged to visit uwcneo.com for more information.