MARION (WSIL) -- It was all smiles Friday morning as the Marion United crew distributed funds to several businesses in downtown Marion.
A virtual telethon held just weeks ago raised nearly $200,000 for local businesses affected by the pandemic.
It was an emotional morning as those businesses struggling with the shutdown accepted relief funds made possible through a community coming together in a situation unlike any they have experienced before.
"In this type of pandemic, it's every community, it's the whole state, it's the whole country, really the whole world," said Southern Illinois Community Foundation CEO Byram Fager, about the differences in supporting communities hit by regional disasters compared to COVID-19, which affects everyone. "We don't see that ability for our neighbors to come and support us during this time as easily as we all need to be here, to support ourselves"
Supporting each other is the mission of Marion United, a relief effort spear-headed by Crown Brew co-owners Jared Gravatt and Joshua Benitone.
"To create this and actually see, us actually being able to hand checks to businesses and to see that kind of positive impact, brings us so much joy, it's amazing," said Gravatt as the checks were presented to business owners.
"It's really cool to see how quick this turnaround process is too," added Benitone. "There's a lot of great programs out there, but a lot of people have no clue when something's coming through, (and) to see the money come in as quick as it did, and now go out into our community quick as it is, is what these businesses need right now."
Those struggling businesses agreed as 111 of them applied for the grants, with their combined needs outpacing the fundraising. According to Marion United, $830,000.00 in relief funds were requested as 490 out of 701 employees were laid off, and revenue losses have reached 90-percent due to COVID-19.
"We're so proud to be able to take some of this and get this to our employees, get our stock levels back up when it's time to go," said John Brown's On The Square owner, John Brown.
Those small businesses owners said by working together, they will get though this together.
"We're going to make this thing work," said Bennie's Italian Foods' owners Lynn and John Hill. "We're going to be as safe as we can, and do all we can to maintain a business here in downtown, and we're going to help our partners too."
The Marion United organizers said because of the increasing need, they will continue to raise funds and they already have plans for another online telethon.
Donations to Marion United are distributed through Southern Illinois Community Foundation, and those donations can be made online at , where t-shirts and hats benefiting the cause are also available for purchase.
