The United Way of Montgomery, Radford & Floyd is ready to dip into the United in Caring Fund to help meet the immediate needs of Tech victims and their families.

Established the day after the April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech, the fund looks to help with funeral expenses, transportation for family members and mental health services, among other services.

In a news release, the United Way said it will provide up to $1,000 per family on request. Families will be able to use the funds at their discretion.

"We have learned through meetings with victims' and families' liaisons, other service providers and university officials that unmet needs are causing undue stress because of unexpected, out-of-pocket expenses like travel, child care and high phone bills," Executive Director Kymn Davidson-Hamley said in the release. "We want to offer immediate assistance so families can get help even before navigating through sometimes frustrating and bureaucratic processes."

The funds expected to be distributed in this initial round represent more than one-third of the $170,000 in commitments the United Way had collected as of Thursday night. Following this first allocation, the United Way will develop a strategy to address the emerging needs of victims and their families. The United in Caring Fund will also help support communitywide recovery through programs such as mental health support and children's programs to address school violence.

For more information, visit www.unitedwaynrv.org.

--Angela Manese-Lee