
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.
Donations my be made online.