COVID-19 Gorge Community Response Fund Awards More Than $105,000 to Assist Local Nonprofit Organizations
HOOD RIVER, OR – The COVID-19 Gorge Community Response Fund, established by the United Way of the Columbia Gorge and the Healthy Gorge Initiative, has awarded $105,078 in grants to local nonprofits to address the immediate needs faced by these organizations and their clients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Twenty grants, averaging $5,441 and ranging from $1,200 to $10,000 have been given to local Gorge nonprofits in the past six weeks. These grants have helped to cover community needs in the following categories: Food (10), Economic/Organization Capacity (5), Mental/Behavioral Health (1), Safety (3) and Other – diapers and baby supplies (1).
The COVID-19 Gorge Community Response Fund has received $263,565 in funding (and signed commitments) through the generosity of PacificSource, the Columbia Gorge Health Council, the Oregon Community Foundation, the Tides Foundation/Google and many compassionate individuals throughout our community. Financial donations to this fund are still urgently needed to help agencies provide food, shelter and other necessities to children, the elderly and others who are in need in our community.
To donate securely online, go to https://www.unitedwaycolumbiagorge.org/give. If you prefer to send a check or money order, please make it payable to the United Way of the Columbia Gorge and mail it to our office headquarters: PO Box 2, Hood River, OR 97031. These donations will combine with the efforts of volunteers to make a difference in our local community during these uncertain times.
Organizations that provide essential services in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Klickitat or Skamania counties and need assistance due to conditions caused directly by the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible for grants from this Community Response Fund. A simple grant application and funding guidelines are available at https://www.gorgeimpact.com/. The applications are collected for review at 5:00 PM each Friday and funds will be distributed within three weeks.
Organizations seeking these grants should keep in mind that these funds are limited so please limit requests to the amount that can be effectively spent in the coming weeks and months. This may not be the only opportunity to request funding. Grant applications are reviewed on a weekly basis and grants will continue to be awarded while the funds are available.
For more information or questions about the applications, contact: Paul Lindberg, Collective Impact Health Specialist Plindberg65@gmail.com
For more information or questions about donating to the fund, contact Karen Neitzel, Board President of the United Way of the Columbia Gorge Unitedway@gorge.net
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