April 20, 2020
The Central Susquehanna Community Foundation announced the first round of grants awarded from the Disaster Relief Fund in response to the current pandemic and resulting effects on the Central Susquehanna region. Grants totaling $207,438 were distributed to 31 local nonprofit organizations.
Grants were awarded to the following organizations to meet requests including essential items (personal care, cleaning supplies, medical supplies, nonperishable foods), meal prep and distribution, equipment maintenance, financial assistance, and crisis services, educational programs, operational costs and human resource needs. These awards help provide continued services for clients across the region.
- AGAPE
- AIDS Resource Alliance, Inc.
- Benton Area School District
- Berwick Area YMCA
- Berwick Senior Citizens, Inc.
- Beyond Violence, Inc.
- Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
- Central Susquehanna Opportunities
- Central Susquehanna Valley Mediation Center, Inc.
- Columbia/Montour Aging Office, Inc.
- Diakon Child, Family & Community Ministries
- Family Service Association of NEPA
- For the Cause
- Gaudenzia, Inc.
- John Buck Memorial Community Food Bank
- Keystone Service Systems, DBA Keystone Human Services
- Middlecreek Area Community Center
- Milton Area School District
- Northern Columbia Community & Cultural Center
- Northumberland County Area Agency on Aging
- Regional Engagement Center (REC)
- Snyder County Coalition for Kids
- Susquehanna River Valley Dental Health Clinic
- The Arc Susquehanna Valley
- The Children’s Museum, Inc.
- The Good Samaritan Mission
- The Salvation Army
- The Women’s Center, Inc.
- Transitional Housing and Care Center of Columbia and Montour County
- Union-Snyder Community Action Agency
- WVIA Public Media
The Disaster Relief Fund, which launched in 2011, provides support for disaster recovery efforts in Columbia, Lower-Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties. The Fund has continued to coordinate initiatives and grants to benefit local nonprofits during critical times through the generosity of community members, businesses, and other Foundation funds.
Holly Morrison, D.Ed., president and CEO of the Foundation stated, “Our Disaster Relief Fund is providing support to community organizations and agencies that are meeting the needs of individuals and families most affected by the pandemic in our region. The need is great—during our first grant round, we saw 80 applications come in, and our committee worked quickly to make these initial distributions.”
Grant decisions from the Disaster Relief Fund are made from an advisory committee composed of ten parter organizations and Foundation representatives. The goal of the first grant round was to meet immediate needs in the community as a result of the pandemic. A second grant round considering long-term effects for local nonprofits will be announced on June 1, 2020.
“Through the generosity of many, we have collected approximately $300,000 so far to give back to our community. Our goal is to do the most good for the most people in our region, and we could not do this without your partnership. There is still more to be done, and every donation helps, no matter the size.”
You can join the Foundation’s Disaster Relief efforts by making a secure online donation at csgiving.org/disaster-relief.