Fayette County Community Foundation Awards Over $30,000 in Grants to Fayette County Public Health, Preparations for COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics Begin
Fayette County Community Foundation
January 26, 2021
The Fayette County COVID-19 Disaster Response Fund, a fund of the Fayette County Community Foundation (FCCF), has awarded an additional $10,000 grant to Fayette County Public Health for COVID-19 support. This brings the total amount awarded by the FCCF to Fayette County Public Health to $31,960 since April 2020.
“Fayette County Public Health and the Board of Health are very grateful for the financial assistance received through the Fayette County Community Foundation, a great partner supporting all things COVID-19 in Fayette County,” said Julie Creery, Fayette County public health administrator and clinical director of outpatient services at Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinics.
The grant dollars have been used to offset the wages and benefits of additional staffing required since the public health pandemic response started in March. Staff time has included manning the phones, contact tracing, the creation of a strike-force team for COVID-19 testing that assisted long-term care and assisted living facilities, and the coordination of community education and guidance with multiple county partners.
“The pandemic response is truly a team effort by all of us living and working in Fayette County. We can’t say enough about our partners and community as so many have stepped up to the plate when they were called upon,” said Creery. “Much of our time right now is going toward the planning and preparation of how the vaccine will get out to the people when it is allocated. This is a group effort for public health involving the two hospitals, four pharmacies and multiple medical clinics in Fayette County.”
The Fayette County Public Health drive-through COVID-19 vaccine clinics will be housed on the Upper Iowa University Campus in Fayette, IA. No dates have been set for the public clinics but will be communicated when the vaccine becomes widely available.
The Fayette County COVID-19 Disaster Response Fund was established to support organizations providing basic needs services and/or working with individuals and families who have been disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Grants totaling $62,622.75 have been awarded from the fund. Organizations that have received the grants include Fayette County, Fayette County Food Shelf, Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinics, North Fayette Valley Ministerial Association, Northeast Iowa Community Action and Oelwein Area Council of Churches.
Gifts can be made to the Fayette County COVID-19 Disaster Response Fund by going to cfneia.org/fayettecovidfund 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 Fayette County COVID-19 Disaster Response Fund. Online gifts are strongly encouraged to have funds accessible for quick response to needs.
For more information about the Fayette County COVID-19 Disaster Response Fund, visit fayetteccf.org or call 319-287-9106.
