5/14/2020
Alpena, Mich. - The third round of grants from the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan’s (CFNEM) 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 $75,000. A fourth round of grants is expected within the next two weeks.
Third round grants include nine new grantees. Four nonprofits from the first round of grants are receiving additional funding to assist them in serving their constituents’ most basic needs.
- $3,000 to Ogemaw County Child Protection Council to provide diapers, wipes and other child essentials;
- $2,500 to Catholic Human Services to provide personal protection equipment (PPE) for staff and clients so mental health assistance can resume safely;
- $2,000 to Crawford County Commission on Aging for meal services and hygiene assistance for Crawford County seniors;
- $1,800 to Love INC of Oscoda County to assist their food pantry;
- $1,500 to Bay View Center of Alpena to purchase PPE and safety equipment so mental health assistance appointments can resume safely;
- $2,500 to NEMROC for PPE for its employees at high risk for COVID-19 complications;
- $2,800 to Crawford AuSable School District’s Grayling Middle School and Grayling Elementary School for their Viking Food Pantry;
- $2,300 to Ogemaw County Christian Fellowship to assist with increasing food and nutrition needs in Ogemaw County;
- $2,000 to FISH Inc. Oscoda to feed Iosco County residents;
- $1,450 to Cheboygan County Habitat for Humanity for food and hygiene products for Cheboygan County and Presque Isle County residents;
- $700 to FISH Inc. Tawas to feed Iosco County residents;
- $1,000 to Alcona County Commission on Aging to support food programs for Alcona County seniors and residents;
- $1,400 to Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency to provide food and utility assistance to families in Montmorency County.
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.
At the time of this news release, a total of $130,220 has been received in donations to the Urgent Needs Fund. This includes 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 many 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. We will continue to support our community as best we can with the available funds,” 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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