78 grants totaling more than $320,000 have been distributed to local nonprofits providing front-line services to the counties’ most vulnerable populations.
MONTGOMERY, NY (May 11, 2020) – Just seven weeks after the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan (CFOS) launch
ed the Orange and Sullivan COVID-19 Response Fund, it has distributed 78 grants totaling $324,176 to local nonprofit organizations to address immediate and longer-term needs of residents in Orange and Sullivan counties hardest hit by the pandemic.
The Orange and Sullivan COVID-19 Response Fund distributes grants of up to $5 thousand each to established nonprofit organizations that provide front-line services to the counties’ most vulnerable populations – food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, protective personal equipment for healthcare workers, online access to education for students, diapers an
d formula for babies, telehealth for the elderly and those with special needs and even supplies for animal shelters.
Since its inception, the fund has generated overwhelming support from local individuals, corporations and foundations and raised more than $520,000. Grant requests are coming in daily, and CFOS continues to look to the public for donations to meet escalating needs in both counties.
“We are blown away by the outpouring of generosity by community members, corporations and foundations alike. Surpassing half a million dollars raised was no small task, and it shows just how much folks i
n Orange and Sullivan counties care about their neighbors’ wellbeing even when their own daily lives have been turned upside down,” said Elizabeth Rowley, CFOS President and CEO. “However, as the weeks pass and more and more people are out of work, the need for services provided by area nonprofits will rise. We hope that those who can will continue to give to help the most vulnerable get through this crisis. We’re certain that with our help the nonprofits will continue to rise to the occasion to provide the critical goods and services needed.”
Baby Steps Baby Pantry in the City of Newburgh was among the nonprofits to be awarded a grant to support their response efforts. Because
of the grant, the nonprofit has been able to distribute thousands of diapers, wipes, ointment and baby soap to more families in need.
“Without the grant from the Orange and Sullivan COVID-19 Response Fund, we would not have been able to increase the number of diapers we provide to families who have recently lost their jobs and were already struggling to provide enough dry diapers for their babies,” said Baby Steps Baby Pantry Co-Founder Laura Kohlmann. “Thanks to the support of the Orange and Sullivan COVID-19 Response Fund, we have accepted requests to help additional families in need, who are reaching out to our partner social service agencies here in Orange County.”
The CFOS component fund A Single Bite is utilizing the grant it was awarded to support its efforts to help feed Sullivan County’s low-income children and their families.
“With the help of the COVID-19 Response Fund and the generosity of so many in our community, A Single Bite has been able to respond to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis by helping local families who are at serious risk for hunger. Three times a week, our team prepares
and delivers more than 500 healthy meals and sadly, more families are requesting assistance every day,” said CFOS – Fund for A Single Bite Executive Director Audrey Garro. “One hundred percent of contributions to A Single Bite exclusively support the purchase of food and packaging and we continue to rely on local growers and producers as much as possible to help them through this challenging time.”
Donations at any level are currently being accepted.
100% of donations to the fund will stay here in Orange and Sullivan counties. Nonprofit organizations providing response services to Orange and Sullivan residents during this pandemic are encouraged to apply for grants at. This information and a list of grantees can be found at www.cfosny.org/covid-19-response-fund/. A full list of donors can be found at www.cfosny.org/covid-19-response-donors/.
The impacts of the novel coronavirus are uncertain and continue to mount. Through consultation with its community partners, CFOS will continue to gather information about how to effectively
provide immediate support, with the understanding that the impacts may be long-lasting and recovery for many will be a difficult process.
Photo captions: Bishop Paul Egensteiner of the Metropolitan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America volunteering at a diaper distribution from the Baby Steps Baby Pantry.
The culinary team at A Single Bite and Foster Supply Hospitality send a big THANK YOU for the public’s support of their efforts to help feed Sullivan County’s low-income children and their families.
About the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan (CFOS): Based in Montgomery, NY, the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan connects people who care with causes that matter. Established in 1999, the Foundation helps philanthropic individuals, businesses and organizations establish charitable funds that will award grants and scholarships, for good, forever. The Foundation has significantly increased the region’s charitable capital and has empowered donors to make a profound difference in the quality of life in our region. Since its inception, CFOS, with its donors and fund representatives, has awarded more than $15 million in grants and scholarships. The Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan currently administers 322 active charitable funds that represent nearly $30 million in assets to support animal welfare, arts and culture, education, the environment, health and human services, recreation and youth. To learn more, visit cfosny.org.
