Funding to uplift crucial nonprofit services during economic distress associated with the virus
The United Way COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund has granted $298,175 to 16 human service organizations providing critical services serving people in Monroe, Owen, and Greene counties. With support from this Fund, these organizations can continue to provide life-changing services to members of our community affected by the pandemic. Priority needs for the fund focused on sustaining operations of agencies meeting community members’ basic needs, developing safe and temporary residential programs for at-risk individuals served by area shelters, and maintaining or increasing the capacity of local food security systems.
“The Community Foundation is proud to be working in parallel with our philanthropic partners to address the emergent needs of local organizations during this early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said President and CEO Tina Peterson. “Both the large grant the Foundation made to the United Way COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund and the 17 Rapid Response Grants the Foundation delivered to nonprofits last week are meant to ensure that essential organizations have the capacity to lean in during this time of crisis. The Foundation is exploring every possibility for creatively deploying its resources to support those who call our community home.”
COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund Phase 1 grant recipients include:
- All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center – $2,500
- American Red Cross Southeast Indiana Chapter – $1,500
- Amethyst House – $15,000
- Area 10 Agency on Aging – $20,000
- Bloomington Meals on Wheels – $7,000
- Catholic Charities Bloomington – $15,000
- Community Kitchen – $4,175
- El Centro Comunal Latino – $12,000
- Hoosier Hills Food Bank – $50,000
- Middle Way House – $20,000
- The Monroe County Food Train – $5,750
- Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard – $20,000
- New Leaf – New Life – $6,000
- Pantry 279, Inc. – $15,000
- Wheeler Mission – $35,000
- Shalom Community Center (for community isolation shelter) – $70,000
From purchasing diapers and supporting critical domestic violence services to home delivery of meals to elderly and services to those in addiction recovery, the grants will be used to fund priority needs. Catholic Charities Bloomington plans to use the grant to offer online-based mental health services to adults, families, and children during this time of adjustment and uncertainty. Pantry 279 will use the funds to support the four-fold increase of individuals experiencing food insecurity in Ellettsville and the surrounding communities during the pandemic. The American Red Cross Southeast Indiana Chapter will use funds to support all possible blood donations, as the pandemic has caused a significant blood shortage due to cancelled blood drives and other events. Wheeler Missions plans to hire temporary emergency shelter staff in response to decreased help from their volunteer base. The $70,000 granted to a collaborative project between Shalom Community Center, New Hope for Families, Wheeler Mission, Middle Way House, and Monroe County Health Department will fund a coordinated and secure safe isolation shelter space for individuals currently in mass shelters, a resource previously unavailable in our community.
A committee of cross-sector community partners identified critical needs and resource gaps to guide decisions regarding the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. The granting committee includes representatives from the Bloomington Health Foundation, City of Bloomington, Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, Monroe County Government, Indiana University, and United Way of Monroe County.
Fund supporters include Bloomington Health Foundation, Bloomington Township, Boston Scientific, City of Bloomington, Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, Cook Medical, Duke Energy, First Financial Bank, Hoosier Energy, IU Credit Union, Monroe County Government, Old National Bank, Owen County State Bank, Perry Township, private individuals, Tim Ellis Realtors, Truist Foundation, United Way of Monroe County, United Way Worldwide, and Van Buren Township.
“We are awed, but not surprised, by the quick generosity of organizations, businesses, and individuals in our community. It’s inspiring to see everyone coming together for the good of all. And we are equally impressed with how nonprofits serving vulnerable people creatively designed, in a matter of days, new ways to serve and support vulnerable people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. United Way of Monroe County is honored to work with our partners to fulfill our mission of bringing together the caring power of our community to help those in need,” said Executive Director Efrat Feferman.
Read the full press release on the United Way website.