A $5,000 COVID-19 Community Response Fund grant will help HolyLand Pantry purchase equipment to address a short-term urgent need and provide long-term support for their fresh food inventory.

Thanks to gifts generously donated to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund established by the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region and United Way Fox Cities, six more nonprofits have been awarded $28,000 in grants to assist their efforts as they respond to the unfolding public health emergency. That brings the total awarded to 77 nonprofit organizations so far from the fund to $836,400.

Currently, granting is focusing on the Fox Valley region’s most vulnerable populations and the nonprofit organizations providing urgent basic needs support such as safe shelter, food, childcare, health and financial assistance in Outagamie, Calumet, Shawano, Waupaca and the Neenah-Menasha area of Winnebago counties. Grants will continue to be awarded on an ongoing basis and listed on our COVID -19 Grants page.

Here are the latest grants awarded:

FOOD

Holyland Pantry — A $5,000 grant will help the pantry purchase equipment to address a short-term urgent need and provide long-term support for their fresh food inventory needs that include their southern Calumet County service area.

CHILD CARE

Bridges Child Enrichment Center — A grant of $8,500 will enable the center, which provides care for children of diverse needs, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds from Calumet, Outagamie and the Neenah Menasha area of Winnebago counties, to purchase equipment and supplies to keep children, teachers and families as healthy as possible during the Covid-19 crisis.

Community Child Care Center — A $2,000 grant will help the center in Kimberly continue to provide a quality, safe environment for the children and families it serves from Calumet, Outagamie and the Neenah and Menasha area of Winnebago counties.

SHELTER

Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity — A $5,000 grant will help the organization purchase disinfecting supplies and protective items for employees, volunteers and shoppers at ReStores and construction sites.

VULNERABLE POPULATIONS

Vets and Friends of Wisconsin — A $2,500 grant will help the Appleton organization safely reopen their coffee house and pantry, which supports area military veterans.

WisconSibs — A $5,000 grant supports safe summer programming for siblings of people with disabilities who are in need of respite and connection with others who understand what they’ve been experiencing during the Covid-19 crisis.

Donors to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund:

Since the Community Foundation and United Way established the fund March 17 with $50,000 each, many individuals, funders and businesses have stepped up very generously to contribute more than $1,241,700.00. Updated donor recognition is listed on our COVID-19 Donor Page.

The needs of local nonprofit organizations are and will continue to be significant during the public health crisis and beyond. Ongoing donations to the fund, as well as direct donations to nonprofit organizations from individuals with a passion for specific organizations and causes, are critical now and during the weeks and months to come.

How to donate to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund:

The Community Foundation is waiving all credit card and administrative fees for this fund. Every dollar donated into the fund will be put into action in the community. To donate online, please visit our COVID-How to Help page.

Checks can be made payable to the Community Foundation/COVID-19 and mailed to Community Foundation, 4455 W. Lawrence St., Appleton, WI 54914.

About the COVID-19 Community Response Fund Granting Approach:

The fund supports local nonprofit and other community organizations engaging in response and recovery efforts in Outagamie, Calumet, Shawano, Waupaca and the Neenah-Menasha area of Winnebago counties impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Currently it is addressing immediate basic needs for people who are disproportionately affected by the crisis.

In order to move resources quickly and not further burden nonprofit organizations, there is not be a formal application process. Nonprofits providing immediate basic needs relief can email United Way to share their needs so they can be considered during the granting process.

As the crisis and long-term impacts continue to unfold, the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region and United Way Fox Cities will continue to assess and consider evolving the granting approach into subsequent phases for many types of nonprofit organizations. The grants committee meets on a weekly basis to understand needs and make decisions.

We invite you to donate now to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund. You can also learn about who has given to the fund, the fund’s grant recipients, and check out our latest news and updates.