April 9, 2020 — The Lorain County COVID-19 Response Fund Community Advisory Committee announced its first round of grants to support Lorain County non-profits. In total, $41.5K was awarded to five organizations to help provide support during the pandemic within the priorities of emergency assistance and basic needs, education and youth services, and infrastructure. The first round of grants includes:

Emergency Assistance and Basic Needs

Catholic Charities Corporation Diocese of Cleveland-Lorain $10k

Providing food, rent, and utility assistance and for supplies related to modifying meals to go and purchase additional hygiene, personal protective equipment, and sanitation items related to prevention.

Kidney Foundation of Ohio $1.5K

Assisting Lorain County patients with transportation costs to receive medical treatment.

Lorain County Free Clinic $10K

Purchasing medication, medical supplies, and preparing for the surge in patient demand due to mass layoffs and eventual loss of healthcare insurance.

Education and Youth Services

Save Our Children of Elyria Inc. $10K

Providing Elyria City School students with assistance packages, including groceries and educational and technological support.

Infrastructure

PCs for People $10K

Providing financial assistance to families within Elyria City Schools and Clearview Local Schools to purchase refurbished computers and hotspots to enable distance learning.

Learn about the grants to these organizations at peoplewhocare.org. These grants were selected by a Community Advisory Committee representing front line service providers, and the Committee plans to continue to make grants through June, with the potential to extend grant opportunities as needed and as additional funding sources become available through new partners joining the effort.

Since inception, contributions to the Lorain County COVID-19 Response Fund now total more than $130K from corporations, civic and philanthropic partners, including donations from individuals and families across the county. New funding partners (since April 1) include Community West Foundation.

Funding partners urge other foundations, corporate entities, individuals, and organizations to contribute to the fund via peoplewhocare.org, where you can also view a list of partners to date. Donations of any amount are welcomed, and all contributions are tax-deductible.

The Black River Education and Wellness Foundation, , Community West Foundation, Lakeland Community Fund, , Foundation, The Stocker Foundation and will work collaboratively to collect emergency funding requests using a standard online application to simplify and streamline the process for non-profits seeking emergency funds.

For more information or to assist our community, please visit peoplewhocare.org or call 440.984.7390.