Third Round Of Grants From Bucks County COVID-19 Recovery Fund Announced

The third round of grants from the Bucks County COVID-19 Recovery Fund has been announced.

The fund started with $50,000 from United Way of Bucks County and Penn Community Bank last month to support nonprofits that are aiding residents impacted by COVID-19 and providing life-sustaining and essential human services.

Since the initial announcement last month, more than 200 individual donors and organizations like Truist Financial (BB&T), Janssen, Foundations Community Partnership, Bucks County Foundation, Hallett Charitable Foundation, Barra Foundation, Grundy Foundation, Fegley Law Firm, and Shoprite of Hunterdon County have stepped forward.

Below are the list of organizations that were awarded funds ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 in the third round of funding. The total number of funds awarded in this round was $32,500, according to the United Way of Bucks County.

• A Woman’s Place will use their grant to make HIPPA-compliant Tele-Services available to clients safely and without interruption. This includes individual counseling, group counseling, children’s counseling, and legal services.
• Family Service Association will use recovery funds to support Bucks County’s Emergency Homeless Shelter. This includes food and urgently needed cleaning supplies.
• Maternity Care Coalition is providing their clients with essentials like formula, wipes, and diapers. Their goal is to ensure families are able to access the resources they need while adhering to social distancing guidelines that protect staff and community members.
• Blended case managers at Merakey, an organization specializing in developmental and behavioral health, will use funds to deliver groceries and personal hygiene items to their at-risk clients who can’t secure these things on their own.
• YMCA of Bucks County is using grant funds to support Operation Compassion. One element of this project, launched in response to COVID-19, makes bathrooms, showers, meals, and fresh clothing available to those who are homeless. These services are available twice a week at YMCA branches in Fairless Hills, Doylestown, and Quakertown.
• YWCA of Bucks County is using their grant to help people currently in their Rapid Rehousing program. These families, all of whom were previously homeless, have all experienced significant financial setbacks due to COVID-19. The grant will ensure that these families remain stably housed.
• Ivins Outreach Center is using funds to continue serving a growing number of seniors and families in need of food and other necessities.

For A Woman’s Place, a domestic violence organization, the COVID-19 stay-at-home order has increased the need for the agency’s services in the county.

Interim Chief Executive Officer Ifeoma Aduba said the fact many people have to stay at home puts those dealing with domestic violence at greater risk.

The United Way of Bucks County’s member agencies will continue to submit grant applications for funds. The proposals will be inspected by a panel of business and nonprofit leaders.

Donations to the fund can be made at uwbucks.org/COVIDrecovery or by mailing a check to United Way of Bucks County, 413 Hood Boulevard, Fairless Hills, PA 19030 with “COVID Recovery” in the subject line.

Editor’s Note: Publisher Tom Sofield is a member of the United Way of Bucks County Board of Directors. 

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