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Freeport Community Foundation, United Way award $205,000 in grants
FREEPORT–The Freeport Community Foundation and the United Way of Northwest Illinois are awarding $205,000 in Northwest Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund grants to 30 non-profit organizations based throughout Stephenson, Jo Daviess and Carroll counties.
The emergency needs grants awarded include funding for 10 northwest Illinois organizations offering assorted COVID-19 emergency needs support programs to citizens impacted by the pandemic, nine support emergency food distributions throughout the region, four assist with emergency childcare programming, four support short-term economic stimulus projects and three emergency non-profit operational assistances as related to COVID-19 losses.
Jo Daviess County organizations receiving response fund monies distributed through the United Way include:
•$30,000 to Jo-Carroll Energy NFP for their Neighbor-to-Neighbor Care Program.
•$7,500 to Senior Resource Center for safety net services for seniors.
•$5,000 to The Workshop, Galena for emergency community support.
•$5,000 to Galena Elks Lodge for Jo Daviess County food pantry emergency support.
•$5,000 to Riverview Center for COVID-19 sexual assault and DV crisis response program.
•$2,500 to Elizabeth Food Basket, Inc. for family food assistance.
•$2,500 to Hanover United Presbyterian Church Pantry for family food assistance.
The additional $100,000 in emergency relief funding comes from the Freeport Community Foundation’s Community Needs/Matt Marvin Unrestricted Fund:
•$10,000 to Northern Illinois Food Bank for food acquisition and distribution.
•$10,000 to Midwest Medical Center, Galena for COVID-19 operational fund support.
•$6,000 to Northern Illinois Community Action Agency for NICAA Golden Meals.
•$5,000 to CONTACT of Northern Illinois for COVID-19 Crisis Helpline and Referral support.
•$5,000 to Galena Area Chamber of Commerce for COVID-19 business and community project.
•$3,000 to Public Health Foundation of Northern Illinois for community mask project
•$2,000 to Stockton Chamber of Commerce for small business economic stimulus program.
Thirty-one applications were submitted to the NWIL COVID-19 Response Fund, totaling $300,963 in funding requests. Of those applicants, all but one–an application for a general support contribution not related to any COVID-19 emergency needs–received some funding.
“It is clear that all of the agencies that applied for COVID-19 grant funding are struggling to continue meeting even the most basic human needs during this challenging environment,” said Freeport Community Foundation Board President Brad Stewart. “Yet, despite their own respective operational challenges, the applying organizations presented programs outlining numerous ways to support their neighboring residents throughout northwest Illinois.”
United Way of Northwest Illinois Board President Ryan Stodden added, “Everyone in our community is experiencing unique challenges presented by COVID-19. Our goal with this funding has been to assist affected individuals by providing for basic necessities, aiding those organizations that care for the most vulnerable individuals, and supporting local businesses.”