{"id":2982,"date":"2020-05-26T20:35:46","date_gmt":"2020-05-26T20:35:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/?p=2982"},"modified":"2020-05-27T14:01:28","modified_gmt":"2020-05-27T14:01:28","slug":"support-fund-grants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/support-fund-grants\/","title":{"rendered":"Foundation Board Approves Nearly $10,000 in Additional Community Support Fund Grants"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>WATERTOWN <\/b>\u2014 <\/span>The Northern New York Community Foundation is pleased to announce nearly $10,000 in grant awards to support nonprofit organizations responding to the needs of thousands of North Country residents impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Earlier this month, the Foundation\u2019s Board of Directors approved the additional grants from the COVID-19 Community Support Fund, a resource that continues to grow thanks to the generosity of individual donors, families, and corporate and community partners who have generously contributed to extend the effort.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>The Community Foundation established the support fund in March with an initial $50,000 in funding to rapidly address challenges across the region as the effects of the global health pandemic deepened. The fund has helped partner agencies and other nonprofit organizations in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties that work to support essential needs for thousands of our neighbors.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>In late March, the Foundation announced initial grant awards totaling $30,000 to strengthen resources for essential needs identified by food pantries, soup kitchens, and school-based backpack programs not presently supported by government funding. Two recent grants awarded from the fund will support first responders, health care workers and retirement community residents.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>A $1,000 grant to Gouverneur Central School<\/b> will be used to help purchase supplies and materials to\u00a0 continue the production of personal protective equipment. Since its local manufacturing effort began, the school has made and distributed 1,175 face shields for adult care facilities and rehab centers, nursing homes, hospitals, rescue squads and home health care aides. Demand for face shields is growing with multiple orders each day.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>A portion of the grant funding for this award comes from the A. Eleanor Jackson Fund <\/b>of the Community Foundation, which is designated to support programs, projects and initiatives that impact the Gouverneur community.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>A $600 grant to Ives Hill Retirement Community<\/b>, Watertown, will help purchase two adult tricycles to provide opportunities for residents to safely exercise while practicing social distancing. The equipment will benefit the well-being of residents during quarantine restrictions.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOur approach is examining short- and long-term needs in our communities \u2014 whether essential or other \u2014 and realizing nonprofits will evolve in service and operations in the months ahead,\u201d said Rande Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. \u201cThanks to the many donors who are helping us in this critical effort, we will be best positioned to provide impactful charitable support in the most responsive and responsible manner both now and in the future and when other sources of support are not available.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Daniel \u201cDJ\u201d Monroe, Antwerp Food Pantry, displays thank-you note for a recent grant the Community Foundation awarded from its COVID-19 Community Support Fund.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Additional grants totaling $8,125 to help strengthen food supplies in the region were also awarded. The grant funding during this time of increased demand is essential for food pantries and non-government funded school pantry programs to help those organizations serve additional local residents in need.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>The Community Foundation matched grants to the Alexandria Bay Community Food Pantry, the Alexandria Bay United Methodist Church (UMC) Blessings Box, the Redwood Food Pantry, and the Reformed Church of the Thousand Isles through a partnership with the Foundation for Community Betterment \u2014 Alexandria Bay Chapter<\/b>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Organizations receiving grant awards to build critical food supplies include:<\/p>\n