51 Nonprofits Tackling COVID-19 with United Way’s Help

As a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, our most critical nonprofit organizations that serve on the front lines of any community emergency (shelters, food pantries, healthcare organizations) are feeling the strain and expect an increased demand for services while simultaneously navigating decreased financial resources.

 

Nonprofit organizations may also face challenges providing support due to decreased workforce and a shortage of volunteers to sustain their respective missions. The operational challenges are mounting at a time when the needs may become unprecedented.

 

United Way of Central Carolinas and Foundation For The Carolinas formed a joint partnership to launch a fundraising effort on March 16—the COVID-19 Response Fund. In partnership with Mecklenburg County, the City of Charlotte, corporations, houses of faith and others, the fund supports Mecklenburg County organizations helping to serve the needs of residents impacted by the crisis, especially our most vulnerable populations.

 

 

How the Fund Works

 

The COVID-19 Response Fund is administered through a partnership between United Way and the Foundation. A grants committee has been established to review and distribute grants from the fund. The committee is made up of local leaders representing a diversity of business sectors, backgrounds and Mecklenburg County geographic locations.

 

The next round of the competitive grant cycle opens at 10 a.m. on April 20. Mecklenburg County 501(c)3 nonprofits that meet eligibility requirements may apply.

 

 

Grant Awards

 

Grants from the COVID-19 Response Fund ensure rapid funding for organizations on the front lines meeting basic needs for those affected by the pandemic.

 

The initial round of awards totaling nearly $3 million was distributed on March 27 to 14 nonprofits as direct grants by the COVID-19 Response Fund grants committee.

 

The second round of awards totaling more than $3 million was distributed on April 10 following a competitive grant cycle overseen by the COVID-19 Response Fund grants committee.

 

“These grants will assist a wide variety of nonprofit organizations across the county to meet escalating needs in the face of this unprecedented crisis,” said United Way of Central Carolinas President and CEO Laura Yates Clark. “These nonprofits are on the frontlines, providing much-needed assistance. They’re doing amazing work despite dealing with many of the same limitations and concerns we all face.”

 

Meet the 51 nonprofits receiving funding in the second round of grants:

 

 

EDUCATION

 

Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center

 

$50,000 to provide 250 children with virtual speech and language therapy and to assist 50 seniors with hearing evaluations/hearing aids.

 

E2D

 

$25,000 to purchase parts needed to refurbish donated laptops, open an uptown lab to create expanded capacity to refurbish donated laptops and pay stipends to student-employees who work on laptops.

 

Latin Americans Working for Achievement

 

$10,000 to provide scholarships to LatinX college students.

 

The Learning Collaborative

 

$45,000 to support parents and students through their online instruction program, TLC@Home.

 

 

EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

 

Ada Jenkins Center

 

$75,000 to provide emergency financial assistance and support to individuals and families.

 

Brookhill Community Resource Center

 

$50,000 to provide emergency financial assistance to neighborhood residents.

 

Caterpillar Ministries

 

$20,500 to provide financial assistance for 40 families.

 

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy

 

$50,000 to provide legal advice and representation.

 

Davidson Housing Coalition

 

$15,000 to provide emergency financial assistance to tenants in affordable housing units.

 

Lakewood Neighborhood Alliance

 

$30,000 to provide emergency financial assistance to neighborhood residents.

 

Pineville Neighbors Place

 

$15,000 to provide emergency financial assistance to neighborhood residents.

 

RAIN

 

$75,000 to provide emergency financial assistance to individuals living with HIV/AIDS.

 

Refugee Support Services of the Carolinas

 

$50,000 to provide refugees with supplies and emergency financial assistance.

 

Servants Heart of Mint Hil

 

$25,000 to provide food, hygiene supplies and emergency financial assistance.

 

 

EMPLOYMENT

 

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont

 

$150,000 to provide online training/retraining to unemployed individuals re-entering the workforce.

 

Mecklenburg Council of Elders

 

$25,000 to purchase hardware/software to provide services virtually.

 

 

FOOD SECURITY

 

Dilworth Soup Kitchen

 

$12,000 for food and supplies needed to provide to-go meals.

 

Friendship Trays

 

$25,000 to purchase food, prepare and deliver meals to seniors.

 

Heal Charlotte

 

$40,000 to purchase and deliver food to residents along Reagan Drive Corridor in Hidden Valley.

 

Hope Street Food Pantry

 

$5,000 to purchase food and build capacity to serve as a mobile pantry.

 

Loaves & Fishes

 

$300,000 to package and deliver food boxes to more than 35,000 people in need.

 

North End Community Coalition

 

$22,480 to purchase personal hygiene care packs and food for families in need.

 

ourBRIDGE for KIDS

 

$40,000 to provide food to immigrant and refugee families.

 

Reeder Memorial Baptist Church Missions Place

 

$10,000 to purchase food and equipment to expand pantry operations.

 

Sandra and Leon Levine Jewish Community Center

 

$25,000 to deliver food to seniors.

 

Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina

 

$500,000 to purchase and distribute food.

 

University City Foundation

 

$25,000 to purchase and distribute food to residents of the University City neighborhood.

 

 

HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH

 

Alexander Youth Network

 

$15,000 to continue mental health services for 340 youth.

 

Care Ring

 

$75,000 to maintain health outcomes for 6,500 clients receiving primary or specialty care.

 

Lake Norman Community Health Clinic

 

$50,000 to expand tele-health capabilities and increase behavioral health support.

 

Matthews Free Medical Clinic

 

$30,000 to continue serving 297 existing patients and increase access for unemployed clients without insurance.

 

MedAssist of Mecklenburg

 

$100,000 to continue serving 3,819 existing patients and increase access for unemployed clients without insurance.

 

Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center

 

$30,000 to provide remote mental health counseling services and increase capability of in-person interviews for high-risk abuse cases.

 

Promise Resource Network

 

$50,000 to maintain mental health services.

 

Steve Smith Family Foundation

 

$40,000 to maintain mental health services at Steve Smith Family Wellness Center.

 

West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition

 

$35,000 to purchase and distribute masks and cleaning supplies to residents.

 

 

SHELTER AND HOUSING

 

Beds for Kids

 

$25,000 to purchase new beds for distribution.

 

Carolinas CARE Partnership

 

$83,500 to provide temporary shelter and rental assistance for tenants living with AIDS.

 

Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte

 

$40,000 to provide rental assistance for 50 vulnerable households.

 

Center for Community Transitions

 

$50,000 to provide social and emotional support to 210 formerly incarcerated women, as well as 80 children and their caregivers.

 

Charlotte Rescue Mission

 

$100,000 to maintain shelter and support services for 269 residents of Dove’s Nest and Charlotte Rescue Mission.

 

Florence Crittenton Services of North Carolina

 

$50,000 to provide shelter, support and mental health services for 160 pregnant clients.

 

Friendship Community Development Corporation

 

$20,000 to maintain transitional housing for 26 women.

 

Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte

 

$100,000 to maintain housing for 600 homeowners.

 

Hope Haven

 

$50,000 to maintain shelter and support for more than 100 individuals in recovery.

 

Lotus Campaign

 

$30,000 to facilitate housing placement for 100 families.

 

Safe Alliance

 

$75,000 to ensure adult survivors of abuse and their children are safely sheltered.

 

The Relatives

 

$35,000 to provide shelter and financial assistance to 25-35 young adults.

 

The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte

 

$250,000 to sustain housing and after-school programming for up to 1,000 individuals.

 

Watchmen of the Streets

 

$10,000 to purchase tents, blankets and other supplies for unsheltered homeless.

 

 

OTHER

 

Humane Society of Charlotte

 

$20,000 to help address financial expenses related to pet care.

 

 

Support the Fund

 

Online: www.HELPCHARMECK.org

Mobile: Text HelpCharMeck to 71777 to receive a text to the direct link

Stock Transfer: https://uwcentralcarolinas.org/donate-stock/

Checks: Make payable to:

COVID-19 Response Fund

c/o United Way of Central Carolinas/FFTC

P.O. Box 890685

Charlotte, NC 28289-0685