11
May
2020
|
17:18 PM
America/New_York

Community Response Grants to support nonprofit pandemic responses

Community Response Grants to support nonprofit pandemic responses

During the pandemic, most organizations are facing increased demand while donations and volunteer support are limited. These difficulties encouraged the Nationwide Foundation to create an expedited grant application process and invited nonprofit partners serving those impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak and related hardships to apply.

Since March, 29 nonprofit recipients will receive a share of the $2 million allocated for the Community Response Grants. Recipients include:

For Beacon of Life in Des Moines, the grant will help cover personal protection equipment, cleaning supplies, food and support staff to ensure the organization can help women emerge stronger not only on the other side of the pandemic but on the other side of their personal crisis following domestic violence, addiction and other circumstances.

Central Iowa Shelter and Services will use its grant to hire additional staff, obtain food for evening meals, additional staff computers for virtual case management and trac phones for clients experiencing homelessness to stay in touch with family.

Columbus Urban League, to support one-time emergency assistance to cover rent, utilities or a mortgage payment to help prevent eviction, and for work re-entry programs, outreach and communications to get people back on their feet and on the way to self-sufficiency.

Impact Community Action in Columbus, to provide rent assistance and other support to those facing eviction due to non-payment of rent as clients work toward financial self-sufficiency.

LifeCare Alliance in Columbus has expanded its robust Meals on Wheels program so seniors and medically fragile individuals who previously dined in the center’s cafe will receive meals at home. The foundation grant is helping with delivery of nearly 6,000 meals a day (a 20% increase) in five central Ohio counties, as well as delivery of about 1,000 orders previously picked up in its food pantry.

Orchard Place, for the Des Moines organization’s summer school program and summer enrichment programming to help emotionally troubled and helpless children stay on course for strong, promising futures.

The San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries (SAMM) will use the funds they received for food, prescription and housing assistance for their clients, and supplies and salary support to keep essential staff safe and working to serve the city’s most vulnerable populations.

St. Francis House in Gainesville, to cover additional and unbudgeted costs at the homeless shelter and soup kitchen, such as food, shelter and janitorial supplies and services resulting from COVID-19.

UMOM New Day Centers in Scottsdale, which provides shelter, services and affordable housing to those experiencing homelessness, will use the funds to cover food, supplies, hazard pay for staff and an increase in shelter beds.

Urban Ministries of Wake County, to help stock its pantry with nutritious food and allow the women’s homeless shelter to accept additional Raleigh residents needing emergency and transitional housing.

The Women’s Community in Wausau, to purchase laptops and other equipment so staff can counsel clients remotely and to help provide meals as residents have been out of work or unable to obtain their own food during the economic shut down.

InterAct in Raleigh will use its grant for technology to provide remote service delivery and essential client services such as shelter food service, intensive cleaning services and hotel stays needed to maintain a safe living environment for women escaping domestic violence.

Iowa Homeless Youth Center / Youth and Shelter Services (YSS), to help the Des Moines-based location with program supplies, food and utilities as it helps troubled youth through pandemic hardships.

“Words can’t adequately express our gratitude. The award from the Nationwide Foundation will make all the difference in the world for survivors of domestic and sexual violence,” said Leigh Duque, executive director of InterAct. “Thank you for helping InterAct live out its mission of saving lives, rebuilding lives and securing safer futures in these incredibly challenging times.”

The Nationwide Foundation donated an additional $3 million in pandemic response grants —$1 million each to national partners the American Red Cross, Feeding America and the United Way to be distributed nationally and to local members/chapters.

“Thank you [Nationwide and the Nationwide Foundation] for your commitment to building strong communities and to the work of YSS. Your leadership during this crisis is an example of how companies can be good corporate citizens,” says Andrew Allen, president, CEO and ’95 alumnus of Youth and Shelter Services. “Dozens of YSS employees show up daily for their shifts in our 24/7 residential programs, just as they have since the start of COVID-19 and will do long after. They’re our heroes on the front lines and these funds will support them as they support more than 20,000 youth we serve each year.”

The Nationwide Foundation is a nonprofit, private foundation that seeks to improve the quality of life in communities that large numbers of Nationwiders call home. Although funded by Nationwide companies, its independent status positions it to support organizations that can make the greatest impact in areas such as food security, crisis stabilization, children’s wellbeing and economic empowerment. Read more about the Nationwide Foundation.