Manatee Community Foundation has approved an additional 18 grants totaling $296,635 from the Manatee County COVID19 Community Response Fund. In total– together with funds from donor advisors and additional funds– Manatee Community Foundation has awarded $1.83 million in grants since March 1, 2020.

The largest grant from the COVID19 Community Response Fund, $44,000, will support Genesis Health Services, a nonprofit community health care clinic located in Palmetto providing medical and dental services to underserved populations. The grant will allow the Center to transition a portion of its medical care to telehealth and tele-dentistry, giving low-income clients access to services while minimizing exposure and travel needs.

In the area of food security, grants included $25,000 to Meals on Wheels PLUS to support a large-scale community food distribution event; $10,000 to Feeding Empty Little Tummies (FELD) for homeless and vulnerable children; $7,000 to Salvation Army of Manatee County for one month of food; $7,000 to New College of Florida for summer food needs for homeless students; $5,000 to State College of Florida for its student food pantry; and $10,000 to Parrish United Methodist Church to support increased food needs for residents of East Manatee County.

Education and child welfare investments are addressing basic needs and equity in learning, including $25,000 to Manatee County School District to ensure that vulnerable third grade students have free wi-fi to access summer learning; $5,000 to Just for Girls for deep cleaning services for student safety; $11,500 to AMI Kids to ensure children and families are connected to available services for basic needs; and $17,800 to Safe Children’s Coalition to support relative and non-relative caregiver families with children who have been removed from their homes.

Health Care grants include: $44,000 to Genesis Health Services for telemedicine; $37,000 to Multicultural Health Institute for COVID19 health supports in African American neighborhoods; $18,635 to Turning Points for telemedicine; $27,000 to Centerstone to provide IT support for patients with mental illness accessing teletherapy; $10,000 to MCR Health Services for additional COVID-19 test kits; and $7,150 for First Step to support low-income patients in recovery with teletherapy.

Additional grants included: $4,550 to Myakka Giving Alliance for the Manatee County Unified Command to purchase seven decontamination machines for PPE; $15,000 to Goodwill Manasota to assist employees in finding new jobs; and $10,000 to MCR Health Services for child care at United Community Centers for essential workers.

The Manatee County COVID-19 Community Response Fund was established by an anonymous donor and accepts tax-deductible contributions from the community for the purpose of supporting health and human service organizations impacted by the coronavirus. Manatee Community Foundation has distributed a total of $419,295 from the fund for basic needs, food security, housing, health care and therapy, needs of vulnerable students, protective equipment, and hospice care. The Foundation continues to accept donations to the Fund, which will help organizations throughout the recovery period.

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