Emergency Response Fund Addresses Community Needs

On March 16, 2020, the Community Foundation of Johnson County activated our emergency response fund with a commitment of $25,000 to assist with our community’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.  Since that time, the Community Foundation has awarded $164,871.66 in emergency funding to 35 local nonprofit organizations thanks to the generosity of individuals, families, businesses and charitable foundations who made gifts of support to the Emergency Response Fund.

The Emergency Response Fund provides flexible resources to nonprofit organizations in Johnson County working with communities who are disproportionately impacted by coronavirus and the economic consequences of this outbreak.

When donations are made to support the fund, each gift is pooled together with others to amplify our collective impact.  Every gift, no matter the size, is extremely helpful in addressing urgent needs.

“We know Johnson County residents are feeling the impacts of this pandemic and there’s still much uncertainly about what the future will hold for all of us,” said Shelly Maharry, executive director of the Community Foundation of Johnson County.  “We are so grateful to the donors, business, and community partners who have joined with us in supporting the needs of our communities at this time.”

The Community Foundation will administer grants from the Emergency Response Fund to support nonprofit and local agencies working on the frontlines supporting Johnson County’s needs during this pandemic.  Funds will be released on a rolling basis and our fundraising efforts will continue throughout the peak outbreak and recovery phases, making it possible to grant funds quickly and flexibly to adapt to evolving needs.

Details about how organizations can apply for funding can be found on our Emergency Response Grants page.

The Emergency Response Fund in Action

As of June 19, 2020, the Community Foundation of Johnson County has granted $164,871.66 in emergency funding to the 35 local nonprofit organizations listed below:

4 C’s Community Coordinated Child Care – $2,400 to support communication with providers through technology

Antelope Lending Library – $5,846 to support continued safe distribution of books

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Johnson County – $5,000 to support keeping matches connected through technology

Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa – $2,500 to support emergency operations

Childserve – $2,000 for continuity of care during COVID-19 crisis.  This grant was fully funded by the Coralville Community Fund.

CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank – $6,500 for operational support

Coralville Community Food Pantry – $4,000 for diapers, baby food and food assistance for Coralville Families. This grant was partially funded by the Coralville Community Fund

Domestic Violence Intervention Program – $5,000 for emergency housing for victims and survivors of abuse

FilmScene – $2,500 for emergency operational support

Free Lunch Program – $3,000 for COVID-19 relief emergency funding

Horizons – A Family Services Alliance – $2,500 for weekend frozen meals for Johnson County Meals on Wheels Program.  This grant was partially funded by a grant from the Coralville Community Fund.

Houses into Homes – $1,800 to support bedbug prevention and delivery costs

IC Compassion – $2,848 to purchase a refrigerator, food supplies and AmeriCorp Vista cost share expenses

Iowa Children’s Museum – $2,500 for emergency operational support

Iowa City Community School District Healthy Kids School Based Clinic – $2,500 to support the purchase of emergency personal protective equipment, medication costs for patients, and lab testing costs

Iowa City Community School District Foundation – $11,500 to support at-home learning initiatives. This grant was partially funded by the Coralville Community Fund.

Iowa City Fab Lab – $3,000 to produce emergency personal protective equipment for local healthcare organizations

Iowa City Free Medical Clinic – $6,000 to support clinic operations

Iowa Legal Aid – $7,500 to provide emergent legal services to low-income Johnson County residents

Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity – $5,000 for mortgage relief for Habitat Homeowners

Johnson County Community Emergency Response Team – $14,600 to purchase a utility trailer to transport critical supplies during the pandemic.  This grant was funded thanks to a generous gift of $10,000 from United Iowa Financial.

North Liberty Community Pantry – $7,500 for safe food delivery and distribution supplies

Our Kids/Open Heartland – $6,000 for rental assistance for at-risk, minority families

Orchestra Iowa – $2,500 for emergency operational support

Refugee and Immigrant Association – $4,050 for increased access to COVID-19 related information for non-English speaking community members

Riverside Theater – $2,500 for emergency operational support

Salvation Army Heartland Division – $2,500 for COVID-19 related expenses

Shelter House – $10,000 to provide emergency operational support; $5,982.66 to fund housing case management; $265 to support the collaborative effort of communicating eviction protection information through Project Better Together

Solon Senior Support – $3,000 to support restaurants serving seniors

Summer of the Arts – $5,000 to support virtual arts performances

Systems Unlimited – $3,100 to support the purchase of extra medical equipment in response to COVID-19

Table to Table – $9,000 to fund an emergent need for a food distribution vehicle.  This grant was partially funded by the Coralville Community Fund.

The Englert Theater – $2,500 for emergency operational support

The Housing Fellowship – $5,000 for emergency operational support/housing assistance

United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties – $7,500 to provide basic needs assistance to individuals and families in Johnson County

The Community Foundation is accepting gifts to the Emergency Response Fund in the following ways:

By phone: (319) 337-0483
By email : Shirley Fliehler shirley@cfjc.org
By mail, with checks made out to Community Foundation of Johnson County with Emergency Response fund in the memo.

Community Foundation of Johnson County
Attn: Emergency Response Fund
501 12th Ave, Ste 102
Coralville, IA  52241

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