United Community Relief Fund grants second round of COVID-19 funding to nonprofits

$600,000 in pandemic relief funding has been granted from the GiveWell Community Foundation and United Way of Central Florida’s relief fund since March. 

LAKELAND, FL (September 3, 2020) – 33 nonprofits providing COVID-19 relief in Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties have received funding from the United Community Relief Fund’s second round of granting.

This latest round of grants aims at supporting vulnerable populations affected by the pandemic through nonprofit programs that provide childcare/adult care assistance, education, food distribution, shelter assistance, and other emergency needs related to the pandemic.

“With schools reopening, it became a priority to support local families facing a new set of challenges in an already difficult time,” said John Attaway, GiveWell Community Foundation’s President and CEO. “We’ve seen how local nonprofits are working tirelessly to meet these evolving needs, and we are so grateful to partner with the United Way to support them through funding generously provided by our community.”

This second round of funding from the United Community Relief Fund brings the total to more than $600,000 since the onset of the pandemic in March.

“There are many individuals and families in our community right now who haven’t needed assistance before but find themselves in difficult time,” said Christina Criser Jackson, President and CEO of United Way of Central Florida. “People need support now more than ever. These funds will empower local nonprofits to meet that need.”

A total of $300,740.19 was distributed in the second round of funding from the United Community Relief Fund to the following nonprofit organizations:

• Achievement Academy received $10,000 for education.
• Alliance for Independence received $9,000 for adult care assistance and emergency needs.
• Alpha and Omega Freedom Ministries received $10,000 for childcare/adult care assistance, education, emergency needs, food distribution, and shelter assistance.
• Anchor House Ministries received $7,500 for childcare assistance, emergency needs, and shelter assistance.
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Polk County received $10,000 for childcare assistance, education, and food distribution.
• Camp Fire U.S.A. Sunshine Council received $7,500 for childcare assistance and education.
• Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center received $7,000 for teletherapy.
• Champion for Children Foundation of Highlands County received $12,000 for childcare, education, emergency needs, and shelter assistance.
• Cutting Edge Ministries received $7,260 for emergency needs and food distribution.
• ElderPoint Ministries received $10,000 for adult care assistance and food distribution.
• Family Literacy Academy at Lake Wales received $7,700 for childcare/adult care assistance and education.
• Girls Incorporated of Winter Haven received $9,000 for childcare assistance and education.
• Good Shepherd Hospice received $15,000 for emergency needs.
• Hands for Homeless received $4,318.69 for food distribution.
• Hardee Help Center received $7,500 for emergency needs.
• Heartland for Children received $7,500 for childcare assistance and shelter assistance.
• Hope Haven Transitional Housing received $5,000 for food distribution and shelter assistance.
• Inspiration Ministries received $5,000 for food distribution.
• kidsPACK received $15,000 for childcare assistance and food distribution.
• Lake Wales Care Center received $7,000 for emergency needs, food distribution, and shelter assistance.
• Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine received $15,000 for emergency needs.
• Learning Resource Center of Polk County received $5,000 for education.
• Meals on Wheels of Polk County received $12,500 for food distribution.
• Mt. Tabor Baptist Church received $15,000 for food distribution.
• Mulberry Community Service received $10,000 for emergency needs and shelter assistance.
• NU-HOPE Elder Care Services received $7,500 for food distribution.
• Parker Street Ministries received $5,300 for childcare assistance and education.
• Peace River Center received $10,000 for education and emergency needs.
• Polk Education Foundation received $14,661.50 for education.
• Talbot House Ministries of Lakeland received $7,700 for emergency needs and shelter assistance.
• The House of Israel received $4,800 for adult care assistance, emergency needs, and shelter assistance.
• Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE) received $15,000 for emergency needs and food distribution.
• Women’s Resource Center of Florida received $5,000 for emergency needs and shelter assistance.

The United Community Relief Fund was established by the GiveWell Community Foundation and United Way of Central Florida in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In April, an initial round of grants from the United Community Relief Fund distributed $310,000 to 34 nonprofits.

These COVID-19 relief grants have been made possible by the more than 200 individual donors who have contributed to the United Community Relief Fund. To learn more and make a donation, please visit unitedcommunityrelief.org.

GET HELP NOW 

Individuals and families impacted and in need of support can contact United Way’s 2-1-1 Information and Referral Center for quick access to resources and aid available in Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties. Connect to 2-1-1 by phone, text message, online chat or email. 2-1-1 is a valuable tool that is available 24-hours and 7 days-a-week.