BUCYRUS — As the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic reached Ohio, UWNCO began discussing the unprecedented stress that was about to be placed on organizations providing safety net services in our community.
“We established our UWNCO Community Relief Fund prior to the statewide shutdown, and immediately began accepting donations, as well as applications for funds from local non-profit organizations,” said Amber Wertman, Executive Director United Way of North Central Ohio serving Crawford, Marion, & Wyandot.
The generosity of businesses like Meijer, Hord Family Farms, and United Bank – as well as the many individuals who have been contributing to the fund – has enabled the organization to distribute funding to more than 15 local non-profit organizations working to provide COVID-19 response and relief to families and individuals in our community.
To date, the Fund has received donations totalling $32,860 and has distributed $27,225 in grants in the three counties served by United Way of North Central Ohio.
Funds distributed in Crawford County totaled $10,250 for seven individual grants to programs that include emergency shelter services, food pantries and distribution services, childcare for essential workers, and funds for PPE and emergency supplies for local health departments.
Funds distributed in Marion County totaled $11,000 for six grants to programs that include emergency shelter services, food pantries and food distribution, childcare service for essential workers, and funds for PPE and emergency supplies for the local county health department.
Funds distributed in Wyandot County totaled $6,000 for three grants to programs that include food pantries, virtual visits for seniors in nursing homes, and funds for PPE and emergency supplies for the county health department.
Applications for Community Relief Fund grants are available to any non-profit organizations in our tri-county area who are responding to the COVID-19 outbreak and its consequences, and/or whose abilities to continue their missions are threatened by the pandemic. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with no application deadline.
Beginning May 1, applications will be evaluated every 60 days by our Ad Hoc Allocation Committee, with award decisions and funding to follow. Grant application does not guarantee funding.
As the state begins the reopening process, and with COVID-19 still present in our communities, we are anticipating a shift in focus for local organizations as they move to address the longer lasting effects of the shutdown and resulting changes in the community. Because of this uncertainty, we are allowing applicants who have already received grant funds to reapply should there be a shift of programming focus in their relief response.
One hundred percent of the donations to the Community Relief Fund will be used to support COVID-19 response and relief, and grants will continue to be awarded until the Fund is depleted.
