Pandemic relief grants adding up
COVID-19 Response Fund nears $1M mark distributed locally
A local COVID -19 fund that formed in response to the pandemic has distributed nearly $1 million to over 100 nonprofits and human service organizations since March.
The Capital Region Community COVID -19 Response Fund — co-led by the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region and the United Way of the Greater Capital Region and funded by corporate and philanthropic partners — has supported local agencies that help people address basic needs, such as food security, child care services and housing. It released an update Thursday estimating it has assisted over 500,000 local residents to date.
As of Thursday, the fund had deployed grants to 40 nonprofits supporting people with basic needs, 30 nonprofits addressing food insecurity, 12 nonprofits ensuring access to safe and affordable housing, 11 nonprofits providing childcare and youth programs, and eight nonprofits delivering health and mental health care services.
The most recent recipients include:
Albany Barn: Free Food Fridge, Albany – Providing free food to lower-income individuals and families in Albany
Albany Police Athletic League – Support for the Albany PAL Cares Daycare program serving 60 youth in the City of Albany
A Baby Institute – Providing basic needs and parent education for lower-income families in Albany
A Boys and Girls Club of the Capital Area – Obtaining supplies for its youth programs in Albany and Troy
Catskill Community Center – Support for its outdoor Summer Recreation program
Center for Employment Opportunities – Providing supplies, resources, and basic needs to support individuals reentering society maintain their employment opportunities
Colonie Senior Service Centers, Inc. – Serving seniors throughout Albany County by providing prepared meals, groceries, transportation, and other support services
Colonie Youth Center – Purchasing supplies for its childcare programs
Comfort Food of Washington County – Addressing food insecurity for people in need throughout Washington County
Freehold Art Exchange for the Hudson/catskill Housing Coalition – Support for distributing essential supplies and providing legal support to low-income and public housing tenants in Columbia and Greene Counties
In Our Own Voices – Providing LGBTQ+ community members with basic needs services including food, grocery store gift cards, personal hygiene products, household items, and emergency funds
Lifepath – Helping seniors by providing basic needs, resources, and additional assistance
Mission Accomplished Transition Services – Support for its community outreach initiatives, including packing and delivering groceries, conducting outreach to local youth and families, and providing technology to students in need
A Mom Starts Here – Assisting pregnant women, young moms, and families in need of supplies, resources, and coaching in the community
A Saratoga YMCA – Allocating funds to families underserved in Saratoga County who cannot afford childcare services
A Social Enterprise and Training (SEAT) Center – Purchasing technology and supplies for local young adults in its workforce development programs
Tru Heart – Organizing a contactless grocery delivery program to provide families in need with free food and household supplies in Albany
Wellspring – Adapting its workspaces to be able to provide confidential services to victims of domestic violence in Saratoga, Warren, and Washington Counties
Over 40 corporate and philanthropic organizations have contributed to the fund. They include: Arrow Family of Companies, Ayco, a Goldman Sachs Company, Bank of America, Berkshire Bank Foundation, Blueshield of Northeastern New York's Blue Fund, B'nai B'rith Gideon Foundation, Callanan Industries, Inc., CDPHP, Citizens Charitable Foundation, the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region, Freihofer’s Run for Women, GE Healthcare, Howard & Bush Foundation, Hunt Real Estate Charitable Foundation, Jpmorgan Chase & Co., Keybank, Mercury Screen Printing, MVP Health Care, National Grid, NYS Health Foundation, NYSUT, Plug Power, Price Chopper's Golub Foundation, Regeneron and the employees of Regeneron, Rockefeller College’s Philanthropy and Civil Society Class Fund, SABIC, the Schenectady Foundation, Sheehan Productions, Stephen Mckee Foundation, Times Union, Tokyo Electron Limited, Tri-city Rentals/massry Realty Partners, the Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation, United Way of the Greater Capital Region, United Way of Montgomery County, UPS, and Wells Fargo Advisors.
Contributions are still being accepted. Interested donors or partners should contact John Eberle at jeberle@cfgcr.org or Peter Gannon at peter@unitedwaygcr.org. Online donations to the fund can be made online here or by texting COVID19 to 41444.