Immediate Support for COVID-19 Response Efforts: United Way Announces $64,500 in Grants
First round of grants from Community Response Fund will support 27 Lane County nonprofits
In determining how to respond to heightened needs of the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, United Way of Lane County knew urgent funding for nonprofits would need to be a priority.
Within a few days of hosting a call local nonprofits to learn about their needs and the pandemic’s impact on their missions, United Way launched its COVID-19 Community Response Fund.
A few short weeks later, we are excited to share at we have just named the first 27 local nonprofits to receive funding from our COVID-19 Community Response Fund. This is the first of four rounds of funding we will distribute over the next few months.
In this first found, the funded grants total $64,500 in support for Lane County programs. The funds will specifically help support COVID-19 response efforts such as expanding basic needs services in rural communities; technology supports for vulnerable populations’ health needs; rental assistance for immigrant families; and more. In total, 65 agencies applied for funding in this first round, with requests totaling $157,000, quickly surpassing the approximate $100,000 we had raised Community Response Fund at the time of the application deadline.
We quickly assembled a review board comprised of community volunteers to review all of the applications and make funding recommendations to our Board of Directors. Because rapid access to funding was our top priority in this process, volunteers and board members acted quickly and thoughtfully—reviewing, deciding on, and responding to all of the requests within one week of the March 30 application deadline. We anticipate the funding needs will continue to grow and many more applications will continue to pour in. We encourage nonprofits whose grant proposals we not funded in this first round are to apply again.
“We are sympathetic to the great need, and grateful for the outpouring of donations from the community...As I speak, more funds are coming in and more requests will be honored.”
This week the following nonprofits will each receive $2,500 in COVID-19 Response Funding (unless otherwise noted) through our first round of funding:
Bethel Education Foundation
CASA of Lane County
Catholic Community Services
Catholic Community Services Refugee and Immigrant Program
Center for Community Counseling
Centro Latino Americano
Coast Fork Watershed Council
Community Sharing
CORE Eugene
DevNW
First Baptist Oakridge ($500)
Florence Food Share
Food Backpacks for Kids
Food for Lane County
Junction City Local Aid
Mapleton Food Share
McKenzie Food Pantry
McKenzie Valley Wellness ($1,500)
Mid Lane Cares
NAACP
Oregon Community Programs
Planned Parenthood
Rural Organizing Project
The ARC
Volunteers in Medicine Clinic
WellMama
White Bird Clinic
Agencies highlight Financial pressures during this time
Our nonprofit agencies shared some of the hardships the community members who access their services are feeling due to the immediate and long-term impacts of these unprecedented circumstances, especially in our immigrant communities.
“All Lane County residents deserve to be able to care for themselves and their families during this pandemic,” said David Saez, Executive Director of Centro Latino Americano. “Unfortunately, while immigrant Oregonians contribute to our economy by working and paying taxes, they and their families have no access to federal emergency benefits. Thanks to the United Way of Lane County’s Community Response Fund, we can make sure that the most vulnerable know they will not be left behind. They will be able to find help to pay rent, pay for groceries, or pay their utility bill. The awarding of these funds is a clear example of how a community steps up and takes care of each other, no matter who they are."
Our focus to ensure children are successful in school and life continues to be our north star; the need for children to have healthy, stable homes and families is more critical than ever. CASA of Lane County similarly echoed how this funding will help ensure the children they serve aren’t left behind during this pandemic even though at this time, in-person visits with children in state custody have been suspended.
“In times of crisis, children are extremely vulnerable. While social distancing is important for children, families, volunteers and staff, connection is more important than ever. CASA volunteers are working hard to maintain strong connections with the children that we serve. This grant from United Way is helping to facilitate expanded virtual visits. We want to make certain that nothing falls through the cracks for children and youth in a time when they need extra support and reassurance.”
A first step toward helping to stabilize our community
“This moment is an opportunity for people across Lane County to better understand how we are all affected when some of us lack the protections of a safety net,” said Mo Young, Equity and Access Coordinator with Lane County and review panelist for the COVID-19 Response Fund. “I am grateful that United Way, with many of its partners and donors, created this fund. I can’t say that I am surprised that the level of need outweighed the resources available, but I can say that it is tough making the decision of who to fund this time and who should wait.”
Our COVID-19 Community Response Fund was launched March 20 with a generous donation of $50,000 in seed funds from PacificSource Health Plans, and subsequent rapid donations from Oregon Community Foundation ($45,000), Oregon Community Credit Union Foundation ($10,000), and many other incredible businesses, foundations, and individuals. We are still accepting donations to help meet the need of the many other requests we have received, and will continue to receive over the next few months.
Nonprofits interested in applying for future rounds of funding can find the application at www.unitedwaylane.org/response-fund-application. The next three rounds of deadlines are April 13, April 27, and May 11.
100% of the funds raised for the COVID-19 Community Response Fund will be invested through these grants, waiving our general “support of service” fee for this fund. We are also continuing to raise funds for our existing funded partners to support their ongoing and day-to-day work.
If you are interested in contributing to our COVID-19 Community Response Fund you can do so here.
In addition to establishing the Community Response Fund, we are currently assessing and addressing local needs by encouraging Lane County nonprofits to fill out a short survey about their volunteer and in-kind needs. We encourage community members to get involved! You can find current volunteer and in-kind donation opportunities on our Volunteer United website. We are also have information and resources for individuals and families seeking support in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.