34 Local Agencies Awarded Grants for COVID-19 Relief

Barry Friedman Apr 30, 2020 at 12:27 pm

Thirty-four non-profit agencies in Polk, Highlands and Hardee Counties are being awarded grants of up to $10,000 of each to support their COVID-19 relief efforts, the GiveWell Community Foundation and United Way of Central Florida announced today.

Grants totaling $310,056.27 are part of the United Community Relief Fund created by the two agencies, and decisions were made by a committee of staff members and volunteer leaders from both organizations.

Grants are going to:

Bartow Church Service Center – $10,000 for food, shelter assistance and childcare.
Caring People Recoveries – $7,000 for shelter assistance.
Catholic Charities of Central Florida – $10,000 for food, basic needs and utilities through the Polk County Senior Services program.
Champion for Children Foundation – $10,000 for food, utilities and shelter assistance.
Children’s Home Society of Florida – $2,032.27 for health and medical supplies.
Explorations V Children’s Museum – $10,000 for childcare for essential workers.
Faith in Action North Lakeland – $10,000 for food and basic supplies for seniors.
Faith Without Works – $5,000 for childcare for essential workers.
Faith Xtreme – $10,000 for food for families without transportation.
Florida Baptist Children’s Home/One More Child – $10,000 for food for children & struggling families.
Frostproof Care Center – $10,000 for shelter assistance and food.
Hands for Homeless – $10,000 for food and health/medical supplies to community.
Hardee Help Center – $10,000 for provide food.
Harvest Assembly of God – $4,000 for food pantry to community.
Heart 4 Winter Haven – $10,000 for rent/utilities assistance.
Heartland for Children – $10,000 for rent/utilities assistance, health/medical supplies and childcare for foster families.
Help of Fort Meade – $10,000 for rent/utility assistance and emergency food.
Blessings and Hope Food Pantry – $10,000 for food pantry to community.
KidsPack – $6,600 for food for children.
Lake Wales Care Center – $10,000 for food and shelter assistance.
Lakeland Habitat for Humanity – $9,724 for shelter assistance to community.
Lighthouse Ministries – $10,000 for shelter and food to community.
Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine – $10,000 for health and medical care.
Meals on Wheels of Polk County – $10,000 for food to seniors.
Mulberry Community Service Center – $10,000 for shelter and utility assistance.
Nuevo Comienzo Resource Center – $10,000 for food and personal care items.
NU-Hope – $10,000 for food to seniors.
Nurse Family Partnership Highlands – $10,000 for food and personal care items.
Peace River Center – $10,000 for health/medical equipment.
Talbot House Ministries –$10,000 for food and shelter for homeless.
The Salvation Army of East Polk – $5,700 for food, supplies and shelter for women and children.
Volunteers in Service to the Elderly – $10,000 for food to the elderly.
The Way Center – $10,000 for emergency lodging and rent assistance.
Women’s Care Center of Bartow – $10,000 for food, shelter assistance and childcare.

The fund was established “to support local nonprofit organizations serving those most vulnerable to the economic and health-related impacts triggered by a community crisis,” according to a news release issued by both organizations.

So far, $125,000 has been collected for a second round of funding, the agencies said.