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PARKERSBURG -- The Parkersburg Area Community Foundation & Regional Affiliates are actively partnering with local donors and other area funders to address the critical needs of local citizens who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a press release from the Foundation, to date they have awarded more than $50,000 in COVID-19 emergency funds to help local nonprofits continue their critical services and programs. Food, rent and utilities assistance, purchasing of hygiene and school supplies are just a few of the things these grants have supported. Parkersburg Area Community Foundation looks to provide additional grants in the coming weeks.
"Many of the requests we are receiving are to support food access for area residents," said Marian Clowes, The Parkersburg Area Community Foundation Associate Director for Community Leadership. "Through the quick action of the Foundation and with the help of our donors, we've responded swiftly to support agencies working on the front lines through this pandemic."
Grants thus far include:
* Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg: $5,000 for direct food assistance, in partnership with Piggly Wiggly, to club member families impacted by COVID-19.
* Calhoun County Schools : $3,000 to purchase hygiene and school supplies to distribute to families in need, awarded in partnership with the Sisters Health Foundation.
* Children's Home Society: $4,620 to supply food boxes for youth in their Transitional Living Program who lack access to food due to COVID 19, awarded in partnership with Sisters Health Foundation.
* Community Resources: $5,000 to buy food and provide operating support for their Thrive food pantry to meet significantly increased demand.
* Friendship Kitchen: $2,000 to purchase food to meet greatly increased demand for their meal program, awarded in partnership with the Sisters Health Foundation.
* Mountaineer Foodbank: $6,000 to support food purchases and operations at the food bank that serves feeding programs in all PACF service counties.
* Normantown Historical Community Center: $1,000 to purchase food to stock their food pantry to meet increased demand in the Gilmer County community.
* Old Man Rivers: $5,000 to buy food to meet increased demand for home meal delivery and food pantry services, awarded in partnership with the Sisters Health Foundation.
* Parkersburg Urban Ministries: $5,000 to purchase food and hygiene products to supply this pantry to meet increased demand, awarded in partnership with the Sisters Health Foundation.
* SW Resources: $7,500 to help clients who are facing financial hardships to meet their basic needs (including rent and utility assistance), awarded in partnership with Sisters Health Foundation.
* The Gathering Church: $1,000 to secure food for home food box deliveries to individuals impacted by COVID-19.
* Wood County Senior Citizens Association: $5,000 to purchase food and related supplies to expand its home meal delivery program.
"Children's Home Society is extremely grateful for the emergency funds received from the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation and Sisters Health Foundation during the COVID-19 health crisis," said Shelley Plauche-Adkins, Children's Home Society of WV's Regional Director. "Many of the formerly homeless youth served through our Transitional Living Program have lost employment and are struggling with food insecurity. These funds will enable Children's Home Society to provide food boxes to 22 youth and their children over the next 12 weeks, which will ensure that our youth are being fed and greatly reduce their stress and worries during this difficult time."
According to the press release, the funding to support these programs is made possible by generous donations from individuals and businesses to the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation Hunger Fund (addresses food insecurity for local people) and Safety Net Fund (supports basic and emergency needs). These two response funds concentrate on relief efforts in the Foundation's 11-county service area.
"We are very thankful for our community's continued support of the Hunger and Safety Net funds," said Clowes. "These significant grants are only possible because of our great community support. We anticipate making more distributions soon and we encourage the community to continue supporting these important charitable funds. We are very grateful for our donors' help, enabling us to meet needs in our community."
The Parkersburg Area Community Foundation is actively contacting regional nonprofits to assess COVID-19 impact on their clients and communities and identifying ways to respond to the needs. Agencies seeking assistance should contact the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation at 304-428-4438 or by email to marian.clowes@pacfwv.com.