COVID Response Fund Distributes $350,000 to Area Agencies

The Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund (ICRF) announced it has distributed more than $6.275 million to 31 nonprofit organizations across the state, marking the third round of grants since launching the fund. Of that total, $350,000 of the funding went to 36 organizations in southeastern Illinois providing resources to residents who have been largely impacted by COVID-19.

The ICRF Fund established by the United Way of Illinois and the Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations, in collaboration with the Office of the Governor, also announced it has raised more than $30.5 million from nearly 2800 donors since its launch on March 26. ICRF prioritizes swiftly deploying resources to nonprofits in support of residents in need of: emergency food and basic supplies; interim housing and shelter; primary health care services; utility and financial assistance; and supports for children and other vulnerable populations.

For this third round of funding, the ICRF expanded its approach to grantmaking, and used a data-driven process to identify the counties hit hardest by this pandemic – capturing both health and economic impacts. ICRF considered unemployment data, COVID-19 cases, percentage of vulnerable populations within the county, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) to prioritize 57 counties in greatest need of support throughout the state.

Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation partnered with Edgar County Community Foundation, Marathon, United Way of Wabash Valley, United Way of Effingham County, and United Way of South Central Illinois to quickly re-distribute funds to organizations with increased demands for services in Clark, Clay, Cumberland, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette and Marion counties. Local recipients include:

Big Brother Big Sisters Effingham County

CASA of Effingham County

Catholic Charities - Effingham County

CEFS

Centenary United Methodist Church

Effingham Hispanic Church of the Nazarene

Effingham Public Library

ERBA

FISH Human Services

First Presbyterian Church

Heartland Human Services

Iglesia Bautista Latina

Neoga Backpack program

Neoga Food Pantry

STAR

Strong Beginnings Early Learning Center & Preschool

Amanda McKay, Director of Effingham Public Library commented, “The Effingham County Case Manager project grew from the success we’ve experienced in helping our community with unemployment and other partner services from our offsite locations. As a natural hub for the community - we know that the library’s basement office space, or Suite 2, is the perfect place for people to access those connections. We're grateful that the Illinois COVID1-19 Response Fund Advisory Committee understood the challenges our region faces and chose to invest in this innovative method of helping our community.”

Christine Winters, Effingham County Problem Solving Court Officer, explained how STAR will use its funding: “We have been extremely fortunate to have been awarded COVID 19 Response Funds. We had numerous participants in the Problem Solving Court Program who could not have managed April and May’s rent, some who could not have paid certain utilities and many who needed assistance with minutes on their phones due to having to use their phones for appointments and Zoom meetings. It was an invaluable resource with which we were able to help many continue with their stability and sobriety. A sincere thank you to all involved!”