With MA COVID-19 Relief Fund support, $753,000 awarded to Essex County nonprofits. Danvers, MA — Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF) announced this week that it has awarded a sixth round of grants from its Essex County COVID-19 Response Fund, established in March to support nonprofit organizations on the frontlines of the pandemic response in Essex County.
This round of grants – which totals $753,000 – includes $675,000 of funding from the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund, the statewide fund initiated by First Lady Lauren Baker and the One8 Foundation to support those across the Commonwealth most impacted by COVID-19.
This fund works in concert with regional community foundations to strategically fill in where gaps are pronounced. “The Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund has once again supported our efforts to help ease some of the many unprecedented challenges faced by Essex County’s most vulnerable residents,” said ECCF President and CEO Beth Francis. “We are extremely grateful for their continued support as we recover and rebuild from this global health crisis.”
The funding announced today is being directed towards Essex County’s Community Action Programs – in partnership with community-based organizations that support the work – to help provide basic necessities, like food and rental assistance, to economically disadvantaged, homeless, immigrant and refugee citizens of Essex County. In addition, grants were awarded to Northern Essex Community College and North Shore Community College in support of their student assistance funds, which help economically vulnerable students with basic needs such as food, rental and fuel assistance.
“While the economy may be slowly coming back online, thousands of vulnerable Essex County residents – people who were already struggling before COVID-19 – continue to struggle,” said ECCF’s Vice President for Grants, Nonprofits and Donor Services Carol Lavoie Schuster. “We’re entering our fourth month since the pandemic began, and our support of nonprofit organizations that provide basic services to so many of our friends and neighbors is more important than ever as people continue to face uncertain economic times.”
To date, ECCF has awarded nearly $3.5 million through 192 grants to nonprofits battling COVID-19 and the resulting fallout from the virus. “The recovery and rebuilding of our communities will continue well into the foreseeable future. Essex County’s nonprofit organizations – and the people they serve – will need our support for a long time to come,” said Francis. “As your community foundation, ECCF will use whatever resources we can to ensure the health and well-being of our region’s cities, towns and residents.”
You can help those most affected by the COVID-19 crisis by supporting our region’s nonprofits on the front lines. Donate today to the Essex County COVID-19 Response Fund here.
About the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund The Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund supports those across the state most impacted by the COVID-19 health crisis, focusing on essential frontline workers and vulnerable populations including the homeless, immigrant populations, people with disabilities and those facing food insecurity. The Fund works in concert with regional community foundations and non-profit leaders who partner with local leaders to understand the response and relief landscape, strategically filling in where gaps are pronounced. For more information, visit MACovid19ReliefFund.org.
