Thanks To The Generosity Of Our Donors & Partners, The COVID-19 Response Fund Will:
Provide New Digital Points of Contact, Support, & Cleaning Supplies For Every Woman's Place!
Grant Awarded $5,000
In response to the needs of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human sex trafficking, Every Woman's Place has a new web-based chat and text feature to communicate instead of face-to-face contact. There is also extra support for staff who are essential workers in keeping the shelter operational and disinfectant cleaning supplies to keep everyone safe.
Provide Pantry Relief & Aid for Mission For Area People!
Grant Awarded $15,000
In some cases, pantries and other basic needs organizations have seen their need requests doubled due to the large number of people who have lost temporary employment due to the COVID-19. Mission for Area People provides relief with medical assistance, food assistance, utility & housing assistance.
Give Support For Muskegon Rescue Mission!
Grant Awarded $10,000
Muskegon Rescue Mission shelters provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner to their guests and the general public. In addition, they also serve community with their weekly pantry meal packages and daily emergency food bags. Aside from meals, they also provide basic toiletries with every pantry meal package, which gives struggling families a week's worth of food and toiletries for their specific family size. They provide a safe shelter, health screenings, job training, and many other critical resources to equip their guests for success.
Provide Infant & Toddler Supplies For Families Through The Head Start of Muskegon/Oceana!
Grant Awarded $2,500
Emergency financial requests for basic supplies are coming from local families. Head Start is in contact with each family weekly in the program with their teachers, home visitors, and family advocates. They have received numerous requests for emergency assistance from parents for items like baby formula, diapers, & pull-ups.
Help Provide 3,000 Meals To Seniors In Our Community!
Grant Awarded $4,500
The YMCA Veggie Van is a mobile farmers market traveling around West Michigan providing fresh fruits and vegetables, and pantry staples to the senior population, particularly those who are over 60 and most at risk for severe complications with the COVID-19 virus. Specifically, the van is distributing meals to seniors at AgeWell sites: Muskegon Farmers Market (March 24); White Lake Community (March 27); Orchard View Community Education (March 31 and April 16)); Holton United Methodist Church (April 2); Muskegon Heights Farmer's Market (April 7); Ravenna First Reformed Church (April 8); North Muskegon Community United Methodist Church (April 10); Fruitport Congregational Church (April 14)
Provide Flexible Housing Support!
Grant Awarded $10,000
Community enCompass will provide flexible housing support for households who may not meet income guidelines for other types of support but who have experienced a drop in income due to COVID-19. In addition to alleviating the immediate housing crisis, Community enCompass will provide short-term case management support to develop payment plans, spending plans, and connect them with other community resources to help them get back to economic security - stable income and resources to support themselves in the foreseeable future.
Provide Food Security Through Salvation Army!
Grant Awarded $3,000
Grants have been awarded to The Salvation Army of Muskegon to go towards food security and pantry needs. This will help families that are experiencing layoffs, having extra children at home, and those who are homeless. They provide food boxes, and with these funds, they will be able to purchase much-needed meat for our families.
Provide Food Support For More Than 1,200 People Through Catholic Charities!
Grant $5,000
During a normal week, the Muskegon Catholic Charities Food Pantry would serve about 150 individuals/families but since the Stay Home. Stay Safe. Order, they have been serving 300 individuals/families a week. This grant will support them by providing the additional materials & food they need for their to-go boxes.
Provide Support For Seniors In Our Community!
Grant Awarded $5,000
AgeWell provides shelf-stable and/or frozen meals to keep on hand during the COVID-19 crisis to minimize outside risk of infection to those who are 60 years and over. Because of the risk of exposure, many seniors over the age of 60 have isolated themselves or are homebound with no way of getting groceries without possibly contracting the virus. AgeWell Services' Team is stepping up to provide food support for these individuals.
Provide Food Security Support Through Fruitport Christian Reformed Church!
Grant Awarded $1,000
Fruitport Christian Reformed Church has extended its normal food pantry hours to Monday & Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and Wednesdays from 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. This grant will purchase not only food but personal care items to be given to the local community they serve.
Help Create & Distribute Masks & Support Love INC Food Pantries!
Grant Awarded $5,000
Love INC works with many churches to have weekly/daily/as needed food pantry hours for our neighbors in need. Their pantry partners and ministries do an amazing job of providing for the needs of our neighbors. Each person receives approximately one week’s worth of pantry food and a few of our pantries also give away freezer items (meat, butter, bread).
Provide Personal Protection Equipment to HealthWest!
Grant Awarded $2,500
The majority of the work provided by HealthWest is done in the community. They needed more personal protection equipment to protect both our staff and the people they serve. HealthWest staff also work alongside law enforcement in responding to mental health crises in the community. They have mobile response teams available 24 hours to respond to mental health crises.
Provide Support To Overcoming Barriers, INC!
Grant Awarded $500
Overcoming Barriers INC plans to support the individuals they serve by increasing daily activies within their homes to at 4 times a week, increasing the number of hot meals they serve, and assist with decreasing depression and anxiety by developing coping skill tactics. They have increased hours and have helped fill gaps with HealthWest with their services.
Provide Necessities To Those In Need Through The Muskegon Heights Housing Commission!
Grant Awarded $2,000
The Muskegon Heights Housing Commission assists elderly and low income families. This grant will provide vulnerable populations in their care with basic needs such as food, toiletries, laundry detergent, and sanitizing products to keep their residents safe.
Provide care packages to MPFH participants (those who have chronic disease or seniors) through Community enCompass!
Grant Awarded $2,500
Community enCompass will assemble weekly care packages that include grocereies, produce, books, activity cards, magazines, exercise equipment and educational materials to porches of their neighbors to alleviate social isolation and boredom. Laundry vouchers are also provided to neighbors who are not able to utilize Sacred Suds due to COVID-19. The YEP (Youth Empowerment Program) students will also be provided books.
Provide hygiene kits for students in Muskegon & Muskegon Heights!
Grant Awarded $2,000
Support Volunteers Connect To People In Need of Grocercy Shopping Through Senior Resources!
Grant Awarded $5,000
Senior Resources of West Michigan is partnering with United Way for the Verified Volunteer Shopper Program, which will provide volunteer shoppers to grocery shop for seniors and others who qualify, who can afford to pay for their groceries. This grant award will allow us to reimburse shoppers, if needed, for underpayment or no payment for the groceries that are delivered.
Provide Personal Protection Equipment to Hospice of Michigan!
Grant Awarded $1,000
Supporting Latino Families and Small Businesses through Latinos Working for the Future!
Grant Awarded $1,500
Latinos Working for the Future will be using this grant to translate COVID-19 informational materials into Spanish for families. This grant will also assist in basic needs for Latino families like rent, food, and utilities. They are also partnering with food banks and local Latino Owned Businesses to purchase food for the families in need.
Continuing to Serve Seniors With Men & Ladies of Honor!
Grant Awarded $1,000
Men & Ladies of Honor are looking to help reach the at risk senior population in Muskegon County by delivering food to seniors door steps. In the summer, Men & Ladies of Honor typically help with lawn care services and in the winter help with snow removal. Typically they serve low income families or disabled seniors in the Muskegon area.