The Community Emergency Relief Fund has awarded $50,500 in grants to nonprofits working with people who have been harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic in Southwest Colorado.
“The COVID-19 coronavirus is taking its toll on every individual and organization in Southwest Colorado, including our community’s nonprofits,” said Lynn Urban, president and CEO for United Way of Southwest Colorado, which is assisting in funding CERF. “To help respond to this unprecedented challenge, CERF is providing funding to key nonprofit organizations that are working with people disproportionately affected by the consequences of COVID-19.”
CERF has announced these grants in five counties in Southwest Colorado:
Dolores County: Reaching Out to Community and Kids.Montezuma County: Sharehouse/Good Samaritan Food Pantry, Mancos FoodShare, The Piñon Project, The Bridge Shelter.San Juan County: San Juan Development Association.Archuleta County: Pagosa Outreach Connection, Food Equity Coalition.La Plata County: Community Emergency Assistance Coalition, La Plata Family Centers Coalition, Manna soup kitchen, Durango Food Bank.Untied Way of Southwest Colorado, The Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado and CERF are working to gather additional resources to help organizations maintain and rebuild financial stability and find and obtain grants and loans available to nonprofits.
The agencies are also partnering with local health officials and other experts to create educational videos and other resources.
Also, Briggen Wrinkle, executive director of the Community Foundation, said the Ballantine Family Fund provided $15,000 in funding to cover half the cost of a semitrailer of food that has been ordered to restock food pantries in Southwest Colorado.
CERF, which is managed by the Community Foundation, was initially established to help workers who were displaced by the 2008 Seasons Rotisserie & Grill fire in downtown Durango. The fund has also been used to help people harmed in disasters since 2008, including the Gold King Mine spill in 2015, the Adobe Building Fire in Pagosa Springs in 2016 and the 416 Fire in 2018.
As of March 31, CERF has raised $138,000 from local businesses and individuals. CERF is raising money and serving all nonprofits in all five counties in Southwest Colorado.
A second phase of CERF COVID-19 funding will have an online grant application. Nonprofits should follow the Community Foundation’s Facebook page and United Way of Southwest Colorado’s Facebook page for information about the next round of grant applications.
The Community Foundation and United Way anticipate the grant application window will be open for a short time so aid can be provided quickly. The next round of funding is anticipated to be disbursed by April 30.
To donate to the Community Emergency Relief Fund, visit www.coloradogives.org/cerf or send a check payable to the Community Foundation with CERF in the memo line to P.O. Box 1673, Durango, CO 81302. Donations can also be taken by texting “credit” to 40403 to pay with your phone.
parmijo@durangoherald.com
