COVID-19 Cooperative Disaster Response Fund allocates more funds, nears $275,000 in grants
CFNEIA
June 5, 2020
The Black Hawk County COVID-19 Cooperative Disaster Response Fund, a fund of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, has made nine new grants totaling $79,100, increasing the fund’s total grant amount to $275,705. Grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations serving Black Hawk County providing basic needs services and/or working with individuals and families who have been disproportionately impacted by the public health and economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. Organizations receiving the nine new grants include:
- Boys and Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley, $15,000
- Cedar Valley Preschool and Child Care, $10,000
- Comprehensive Systems, $4,000
- EMBARC, $12,500
- House of Hope, $5,000
- Iowa Legal Aid, $10,000
- North Star Community Services, $10,000
- Salvation Army, $10,000
- Visiting Nurses Associations, $2,600
"Support for the overwhelming needs in the refugee and immigrant community due to this crisis is greatly needed. This pandemic has created many unique difficulties for our new neighbors,” said Henny Ohr, EMBARC executive director. “The struggle to cope and fear many Iowans are experiencing is amplified in the refugee community due to language barriers, employment challenges, and difficulties navigating health and other systems. The Foundation’s support now, and the support of many others in Black Hawk County, renews our spirits and steadies our purpose."
Funds will continue to be released on a rolling basis as fundraising continues throughout the COVID-19 disaster, making it possible to move resources quickly and to adapt to evolving needs in subsequent phases of the crisis recovery efforts. Nonprofits can apply for grants from the fund online at cfneia.org.
Gifts can be made to the Black Hawk County COVID-19 Cooperative Disaster Response Fund to provide more grant opportunities for nonprofits serving Black Hawk County. Donations will be used to quickly move resources to where they are most needed and to adapt to evolving needs. Gifts can be made to the fund by going to cfneia.org and clicking on the Give Today button. Gifts can also be directed to the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, 3117 Greenhill Circle, Cedar Falls, IA 50613. Checks should be made out to Black Hawk County COVID-19 Cooperative Disaster Response Fund. Online gifts are strongly encouraged to have funds accessible for quick response to needs.
The Black Hawk County COVID-19 Cooperative Disaster Response Fund was collaboratively established by CFNEIA, the Otto Schoitz Foundation, the Cedar Valley United Way and the Guernsey Foundation. Other funding partners include the Cedar Falls Community Foundation and Waterloo Community Foundation. Grants from the disaster response fund will be administered in collaboration with organizations coordinating pandemic response efforts, including Black Hawk County COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster).
