In its 13th round of grants, the Delaware Covid-19 Strategic Response Fund at the Delaware Community Foundation awarded $210,426 to 11 nonprofit organizations providing services to communities throughout the state.
The grants will address a broad range of community needs during the pandemic.
- Delaware Children’s Museum — $20,000 for safety materials for visitors, social distancing signage, sneeze guards and other equipment to ensure a safe reopening.
- Kent-Sussex Industries — $25,000 for equipment and renovation of program space.
- Sussex County Habitat for Humanity — $27,440 for technology for various purposes, including a website redesign to integrate online ReStore sales.
- West End Neighborhood House — $20,086 for an outdoor classroom, disposable masks, and a temperature screening system.
- YMCA Delaware — $50,000 to improve indoor safety and air quality through ventilation and filtration.
- Code Purple of Kent County — $25,000 for a food truck to deliver food to the homeless in Kent and Sussex County.
- Delaware Zoological Society — $6,600 for online ticketing software.
- Developing Artists Collaboration (Dewey Artists) — $3,400 for electronics for the Creative Career Service Program.
- Kalmar Nyckel — $5,400 for a virtual field trip program.
- Serviam Girls Academy — $20,000 to prepare for a safe reopening, including health and safety training for teachers and administration.
- Historic Lewes Farmers Market — $7,500 for signage and equipment to reopen safely.
In this 13th round of grants, 49 applicants requested $1.7 million from the Covid-19 Strategic Response Fund.
The fund, which launched on March 18, has awarded $3 million to 139 Delaware nonprofits so far. Through the Community Needs Grants Program, the fund awarded weekly grants March 27-May 22, two rounds of grants in June, and is slated to award monthly grants July-December.
The next application deadline is Aug. 10. For information and to apply, visit delcf.org/community-needs-grants.
Covid-19 grant helps families and their pets
Throughout the summer, three local animal shelters teamed up to provide essential pet food and cat litter needs to Delaware families.
Faithful Friends Animal Society, Delaware Humane Association, and Delaware SPCA partnered with the other agencies in each county to host four drive-up pet food pantry event, thanks to the award from the Covid-19 Strategic Response Fund. See above).
During all four of the Drive-Up Pet Food Banks the groups were able to serve 1,960 individuals, 1,419 dogs, 1,948 cats, with 62 percent of those individuals stating that they or their family members have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
All three organizations will continue our efforts to help the community by providing Free Pet Food and Supply Banks at our organizations stocked for pet owners and colony caretakers in need.
During the Smyrna Drive-Up Pet Food Bank served 532 individuals, 460 dogs, 790 cats, with 80 percent of those individuals stating that they or their family members have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In July, the Seaford Drive-Up Pet Food Bank served 412 individuals, 299 dogs, 560 cats, with 67 percent of those individuals stating that they or their family members have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In May the Wilmington and Newark Drive-Up Pet Food Bank, served 1,016 individuals, 547 dogs, 598 cats, with just over 50 percent of those individuals stating that they or their family members have been affected by the pandemic.
Energize Delaware partners with Catholic Charities
Energize Delaware announced a new partnership with Catholic Charities to create a $200,000 fund to provide emergency financial assistance for utility and fuel bill payments for people at risk of service disconnection. This fund was developed to assist an estimated 400 residents in need who fall between the gaps of other program offerings.
Energize Delaware Executive Director, Tony DePrima, stated, “Meeting the needs of Delawareans in crisis helps to financially stabilize households and provides the tools to successfully remain in their homes. Energize Delaware is happy to partner with Catholic Charities to support at-risk populations maintain their energy needs.”
Once a financial assessment interview has been conducted by case managers, funding will be offered to those who are determined to have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington is a faith-based, social services organization, delivering critical direct care human services to over 83,000 individuals and families residing in Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. No one is excluded from service because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, or ability to pay.
Energize Delaware is a non-profit organization offering a one-stop resource to help residents and businesses save money through clean energy and efficiency.
