5/6/2020
Alpena, Mich. - The second round of grants from the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan’s new Urgent Needs Fund put another $25,000 directly into the hands of local nonprofits to help area residents with basic needs, bringing the total awarded so far to $50,000. A third round of grants is expected within a week.
Second round grants include:
- $8,350 to Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency to help individuals and families with emergency needs including rent and food in Montmorency, Crawford, Ogemaw and Oscoda Counties;
- $4,000 to Hope Shores Alliance for motel stays and personal items for those trying to escape domestic violence and abuse;
- $3,000 to The Salvation Army of Alpena to help local families with basic expenses including clothing, food and shelter;
- $3,940 to Ascension St. Joseph Health Foundation to purchase tablets for the Tawas location’s hospital rooms of COVID patients so they can communicate with family;
- $2,000 to Cheboygan Compassionate Ministries, Inc. to provide food for their pantry and personal protection equipment for workers;
- $2,710 to Food Bank of Eastern Michigan for food in Alcona, Alpena and Cheboygan Counties; and
- $1,000 to Northern Care Center in Cheboygan for personal hygiene items.
Urgent Needs Fund grant applications remain open for nonprofits in northeast Michigan. Grants are currently being used for support of basic human needs for residents affected by the economic fallout and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to the $80,000 with which the Urgent Needs Fund was established, a $20,000 donation was received through the Margot Dorn Dutcher Donor Advised Fund at CFNEM, a $10,000 donation from the Consumers Energy Foundation, and nearly $10,000 in individual contributions.
CFNEM Executive Director Patrick Heraghty says the needs will continue to grow. Additional donations would help the Foundation put more money directly into the hands of nonprofits who are on the human services frontline of this pandemic, and allow CFNEM to continue awarding funds as needed, and as the situation evolves.
“There is, and will continue to be, a significant need in our communities for basic needs support,” said CFNEM Executive Director Patrick Heraghty. “We hope those in a position to donate right now will consider a gift to this fund, or to a nonprofit organization directly that is serving in this capacity.”
The Urgent Needs Fund was established by CFNEM in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic consequences for residents of northeast Michigan. The fund covers the entire CFNEM service area of Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Presque Isle Counties; as well as the communities in its three affiliate foundations: Iosco County Community Foundation, North Central Michigan Community Foundation (Crawford, Ogemaw and Oscoda Counties), and Straits Area Community Foundation (Cheboygan County and Mackinaw City).
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