A $10,000 grant will help Innovative Services provide support to people with developmental disabilities and other varying needs in the Fox Valley area.

Thanks to gifts generously donated to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund established by the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region and United Way Fox Cities, 15 more nonprofits have been awarded $90,900 in grants to assist their efforts as they respond to the unfolding public health emergency. That brings the total awarded to 71 nonprofit organizations so far from the fund to $808,400.

Currently, granting is focusing on the Fox Valley region’s most vulnerable populations and the nonprofit organizations providing urgent basic needs support such as safe shelter, food, childcare, health and financial assistance in Outagamie, Calumet, Shawano, Waupaca and the Neenah-Menasha area of Winnebago counties. Grants will continue to be awarded on an ongoing basis and listed on our COVID -19 Grants page.

Here are the latest grants awarded:

FOOD
Heart of the Valley Food Pantry – A $3,500 grant will help the Kimberly pantry serve an increased number of people from the Fox Cities seeking food assistance during the Covid-19 crisis.

New Holstein Christian Center Food Pantry – A $5,000 grant will help the pantry maintain its ability to serve residents during its weekly distribution times.

Waupaca Farm Market – A $2,000 grant supports its SNAP/WIC assistance program that enables people on food assistance to get healthy, fresh produce in person or via online and home delivery options.

SHELTER
Mission of Hope House – To ensure the New London-based shelter continues providing care and services, a $10,000 grant will help people primarily from Waupaca and Outagamie counties experiencing homelessness.

Pillars – A $25,000 grant supports the Appleton-based homeless shelter’s temporary hotel arrangement to enhance COVID-19 safety and social distance guidelines for its staff and clients it serves from Calumet, Outagamie and the Neenah and Menasha area of Winnebago counties.

HEALTH
ALS Wisconsin Association Chapter – A $5,000 grant supports the medical equipment loan closet in Appleton that provides specialized equipment such as motorized chairs and speech devices typically not covered completely by insurance to people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) living in Outagamie, Calumet, Shawano, Waupaca and the Neenah/Menasha area of Winnebago counties.

American Cancer Society – A $5,000 grant will help to provide free transportation and lodging for cancer patients and their families from Calumet, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca and the Neenah-Menasha area of Winnebago counties.

Center for Suicide Awareness – A $5,000 grant will help the organization respond to an increase in requests for suicide prevention materials from area community organizations, medical offices, police and fire departments, Covid-19 testing sites, churches, and individuals.

Innovative Services – A $10,000 grant will help the organization safely provide support services to people with developmental disabilities and other varying needs in the Fox Valley area.

St. Paul Elder Services – The Kaukauna organization, with a mission of enhancing the lives of aging individuals, will use a $5,000 grant to enhance virtual connections between its facility residents, family members and friends through use of technology.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Community Clothes Closet – A $5,000 grant will help the Menasha-based organization increase its low clothing inventory to enable it to provide an estimated 800 area children with needed clothes during its annual back-to-school event.

Family Caregivers Rock – A $1,500 grant will provide items to in-home caregivers in Outagamie, Waupaca, Calumet and the Neenah and Menasha area of Winnebago counties who are experiencing greater stresses of caring for loved ones.

New Holstein St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry – A $2,500 grant will help the organization provide financial assistance and food to residents.

VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
CASA of the Fox Cities – A $4,000 grant will help the Appleton-based organization’s staff and child advocates safely resume its office and in-home visitation services that are focused on helping abused and neglected children in local courts achieve placement in safe and permanent homes.

Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes – A $2,400 grant will be used to assemble care packages for girls from Appleton and Menasha who are participating in its Reaching Out program.

Donors to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund:

Since the Community Foundation and United Way established the fund March 17 with $50,000 each, many individuals, funders and businesses have stepped up very generously to contribute more than $1,187,890. Updated donor recognition is listed on our COVID-19 Donor Page.

The needs of local nonprofit organizations are and will continue to be significant during the public health crisis and beyond. Ongoing donations to the fund, as well as direct donations to nonprofit organizations from individuals with a passion for specific organizations and causes, are critical now and during the weeks and months to come.

How to donate to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund:

The Community Foundation is waiving all credit card and administrative fees for this fund. Every dollar donated into the fund will be put into action in the community. To donate online, please visit our COVID-How to Help page.

Checks can be made payable to the Community Foundation/COVID-19 and mailed to Community Foundation, 4455 W. Lawrence St., Appleton, WI 54914.

About the COVID-19 Community Response Fund Granting Approach:

The fund supports local nonprofit and other community organizations engaging in response and recovery efforts in Outagamie, Calumet, Shawano, Waupaca and the Neenah-Menasha area of Winnebago counties impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Currently it is addressing immediate basic needs for people who are disproportionately affected by the crisis.

In order to move resources quickly and not further burden nonprofit organizations, there is not be a formal application process. Nonprofits providing immediate basic needs relief can email United Way to share their needs so they can be considered during the granting process.

As the crisis and long-term impacts continue to unfold, the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region and United Way Fox Cities will continue to assess and consider evolving the granting approach into subsequent phases for many types of nonprofit organizations. The grants committee meets on a weekly basis to understand needs and make decisions.

We invite you to donate now to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund. You can also learn about who has given to the fund, the fund’s grant recipients, and check out our latest news and updates.