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Fourteen Fox Cities nonprofits were recently awarded $130,000 in grants from the COVID-19 Community Response Fund to assist their efforts as they respond to the unfolding public health emergency. 

The fund was established by the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region and United Way Fox Cities with $50,000 each. In total, the fund has awarded $405,000 to 36 nonprofit organizations. 

Since the fund was established on March 17, many individuals, funders and businesses contributed more than $704,000. 

Grants from the fund support nonprofit organizations engaging in immediate basic needs relief, short-term response and longer-term recovery of many types of nonprofits in Outagamie, Calumet, Shawano, Waupaca and the Neenah-Menasha area of Winnebago counties.

The current phase one of granting is focusing on the Fox Valley region’s most vulnerable populations and the nonprofit organizations providing urgent basic needs support such as safe shelter, food, childcare, health and financial assistance.     

An updated list of all grant recipients can be found here. Below are some of the recipients and how they are using the grant money.

LEAVEN – This Menasha-based provider of social services for economically disadvantaged and vulnerable people will use a $50,000 grant to provide basic needs financial assistance, preventing struggling households from slipping into greater poverty, homelessness and ill health.  

St. Vincent de Paul Neenah/Menasha – A $20,000 grant will be used to help vulnerable people in the Neenah and Menasha areas who need urgent assistance with food, transportation, housing and other basic needs.  

St. Joseph Food Program – A $15,000 grant will help the Menasha-based organization enhance its services and purchase coolers for storing milk and other perishable items as part of its new drive-up method of distributing food weekly to people in the greater Fox Valley area, primarily from Neenah to Kaukauna. 

Vivent Health – In support of the organization’s efforts to meet increased demand for essential services during Covid-19 social distancing, a $10,000 grant will help to provide food to families living with HIV in the Fox Cities area through home delivery services. 

YouthGo – This youth drop-in center in Neenah, which serves Outagamie, Calumet and Winnebago counties, will use a $5,000 grant to continue to provide and enhance virtual programming by adding activity kits so its youth participants can connect, chat and create while at home, and support their parents and guardians by providing food and personal essentials. 

Fox Valley Community Table – A $2,000 grant will help provide food for free box lunches that are distributed every Tuesday and Saturday in the parking lot of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Neenah.   

Friendship Place – A $10,000 grant will enable the Neenah-based organization to adapt its in-person and online services to continue helping adults with mental illness who need support, especially during the Covid-19 crisis, which is causing an increase in severe mental health symptoms of its members.     

Family Services – This provider of outpatient mental health services to children, youth and adults in the Fox Valley will use a $1,000 grant to enhance its telehealth services.    

CASA of the Fox Cities – A $1,000 grant supports the organization’s move to a virtual environment to conduct its work, which involves training and utilizing community volunteer advocates to help abused and neglected children in local courts achieve placement in safe and permanent homes. 

The needs of local nonprofit organizations are and will continue to be significant during the public health crisis and beyond. Ongoing donations to the fund, as well as direct donations to nonprofit organizations from individuals with a passion for specific organizations and causes, are critical now and during the weeks and months to come. 

To donate online, please visit https://donor.cffoxvalley.org/Make-A-Gift. To learn more about the fund, please visit https://www.cffoxvalley.org/covid-19-how-you-can-help-now/.