COVID-19 Response Fund awards grants

The Lorain County COVID-19 Response Fund Community Advisory Committee announced June 29 the fourth round of grants to support Lorain County nonprofits.

In total, more than $218,500 has been awarded to 23 organizations, according to a news from the COVID-19 Response Fund.

During the fourth round, $83,500 was awarded to seven organizations to help provide support during the novel coronavirus pandemic within the priorities of emergency assistance and basic needs, education and youth services, and infrastructure, the release said.

Fundraising continues and the COVID-19 Response Fund Community Advisory Committee hopes to reconvene in 90 days.

Grants awarded from the fourth round include:

Emergency Assistance and Basic Needs

• I Support the Girls, $5,000 - Collecting and distributing personal hygiene items for women in the region who are experiencing homelessness, poverty, loss of income, unemployment and other COVID-19 related circumstances. • Hope for Futures, $10,000 - Creating microfarms to serve the needs of low- to moderate-income individuals and seniors who experience food insecurity and financial hardship from COVID-19. • Lorain County Urban League, $10,000 - Providing funding for overdue rent, prioritizing households facing eviction. • Oberlin Community Services, $7,500 - Expanding capacity to increase food access to those who need it throughout the county by increasing staff and purchasing food. • OhioGuidestone, $5,000 - Maintaining current operations and retaining frontline staff for an additional two months. • United Way of Greater Lorain County, $40,000 Providing UCAN (United Community Assistance Network) partners with additional monies to provide families rent/mortgage, utilities, transportation and other emergency financial assistance.

Infrastructure

• Cornerstone Pregnancy Services, $6,000 - Providing educational training and support to clients utilizing telehealth and online methods to implement services.

Alex Marks, executive director of Hope for Futures, said the organization will have the opportunity to expand its Hope Farms program, which grows and provides fresh produce to those in need in local communities. “With this grant, we will place a new farm to serve the need of Avon Lake as well as expanding our current farm in Elyria, with the an additional added benefit of providing new part-time employment for a farm manager at those locations,” Marks said.

These grants were selected by a Community Advisory Committee representing front line service providers.

Funding partners urge other foundations, corporate entities, individuals and organizations to contribute to the fund via peoplewhocare. org, where you also can view a list of partners to date.

Donations of any amount are welcomed, and all contributions are tax-deductible.

The Black River Education and Wellness Foundation, Community Foundation of Lorain County, Community West Foundation, Lakeland Community Fund, The Nord Family Foundation, Nordson Corporation Foundation, the Stocker Foundation and United Way of Greater Lorain County will work collaboratively to collect emergency funding requests using a standard online application to simplify and streamline the process for nonprofits seeking emergency funds, according to the release.