HELENA — The Helena Area Community Foundation (HACF) and United Way of Lewis and Clark Area (UWLCA) announced $24,000 in grants to nonprofits this week from the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund.
HACF and UWLCA partnered to create the fund in March to help nonprofits make it through recent economic hardship and adapt to serving their clients during the pandemic.
Grants were then prioritized on the urgency of the need and whether the organization was serving seniors, children and/or vulnerable populations.
The grant recipients were:
Florence Crittenton Home and Services: $1500
Helena Family YMCA: $2000
Volunteers of America of Northern Rockies: $2000
Family Outreach: $2000
Family Promise of Greater Helena: $2000
West Mont: $2000
YWCA Helena: $2000
Intermountain Deaconess Children's Hospital: $2000
The Shop University: $500
Good Samaritan Ministries: $2000
The Friendship Center: $2000
Child Care Connections: $2000
The Holter Museum: $2000
Both the UWLCA and HACF say the economic burden felt by the non profits will last months or even years.
“Right now we’re talking about the urgent need, what do you need to stay safe right now.?” said Emily McVey, UWLCA executive director. “But down the road we’ll be talking about, ‘What do we need to keep you guys open,?’ How do we have art, and how do we have environmental programs and dance lessons and all those kinds of things 6 months down the road.”
“The joint grants committee has actually not said no to anyone,” explained Emily Flemming, HACF executive director. “We’ve either said, ‘tell us more information or not yet,’ but there’s not been a flat out denial of any application we’ve received because truthfully all these nonprofits have a place in our community.”
The fund is still accepting applications and any nonprofit in Lewis and Clark, Broadwater, or Jefferson County with an urgent need are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
More information about the fund, including how to donate, can be found here.
