Local fund for coronavirus-caused emergencies passes $100K goal

The Middletown Community Foundation has surpassed its original campaign goal for a program that assists those impacted by the coronavirus, said Traci Barnett, executive director.

She said the Coronavirus Emergency Fund (CEF) has generated $106,000 and its goal was $100,000. The board of trustees established the fund in March to provide grants to area nonprofits helping individuals and families adversely effected by the coronavirus pandemic, Barnett said.

The trustees allocated an initial $50,000 for the Coronavirus Emergency Fund and over the last two months the MCF sought donations from the community, raising an additional $56,000 so far, she said.

She gave “special thanks” to Talbott Moon and his insurance agency Moon & Adrion for nominating MCF for a grant from Westfield. The $15,000 grant put the Coronavirus Emergency Fund over its goal, she said.

Barnett said nearly 100 community members contributed to the Coronavirus Emergency Fund.

The process for area nonprofits to apply for the emergency funding has been streamlined, requiring only a one- or two-page grant application. Decisions for grant funding are made on a rolling basis, and the foundation vows to keep the process nimble and efficient, according to Barnett.

Patti Gage, president of the Board of Trustees, said the foundation has provided funding to 11 area nonprofits totaling $65,500. She called the needs “immediate and diverse” with a wide array of services being provided by local organizations to lessen the impact of COVID-19.

Barnett said the campaign to raise funds for the CEF will continue indefinitely in hopes of keeping up with the many grant requests received on a regular basis.

Contributions to the Coronavirus Emergency Fund should be made payable to the Middletown Community Foundation, 300 N. Main Street, Suite 300, Middletown, OH 45042. Indicate CEF in the memo portion of the check.

The following nonprofits received grants from the Coronavirus Emergency Fund over the past two months:

$20,000: Downtown Middletown Inc. for rent and utility assistance to 36 struggling Middletown businesses.

$10,000: Salvation Army for the food pantry and utility bill assistance to those in need.

$8,000: Atrium Medical Center Foundation for a Rapid Testing Device for COVID-19.

$5,000Great Miami YMCA to assist with operating costs of daycare for children of first responders.

$5,000: Madison Local Schools for technology assistance to help students virtually connect to their schools.

$5,000: Middletown City Schools to deploy laptops to the neediest K-12 students to enable virtual connection to their schools.

$4,000: Ohio Restaurant Association Education Foundation to help unemployed area restaurant employees pay for utilities, rent, food and gas – recipients must live within MCF's service area of Franklin, Madison, Middletown, Monroe and Trenton.

$3,000: Grace Baptist Church for the Enabled Food Pantry.

$3,000: Feed the Hungry for distributing food in Middletown.

$2,000: Parachute CASA to provide volunteers with online capabilities to remotely serve the children in their client base.

$500: Hope House for cleaning and disinfecting supplies and PPE.

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