Thirty-three non-profit agencies in Polk, Highlands and Hardee Counties are being awarded grants of up to $15,000 each to support their COVID-19 relief efforts, the GiveWell Community Foundation and United Way of Central Florida announced.
Grants totaling $300,740.19 are part of the United Community Relief Fund created by the two organizations. The emphasis was on agencies that provide childcare/adult care assistance, education, food distribution, shelter assistance, and other emergency needs related to the pandemic.
In an earlier round, the two organizations in April granted $310,056.27 to 34 agencies serving vulnerable communities affected by the economic and health effects of the pandemic.
Grants in the latest round:
- Achievement Academy received $10,000 for education.
- Alliance for Independence received $9,000 for adult care assistance and emergency needs.
- Alpha and Omega Freedom Ministries received $10,000 for childcare/adult care assistance, education, emergency needs, food distribution, and shelter assistance.
- Anchor House Ministries received $7,500 for childcare assistance, emergency needs, and shelter assistance.
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Polk County received $10,000 for childcare assistance, education, and food distribution.
- Camp Fire U.S.A. Sunshine Council received $7,500 for childcare assistance and education.
- Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center received $7,000 for teletherapy.
- Champion for Children Foundation of Highlands County received $12,000 for childcare, education, emergency needs, and shelter assistance.
- Cutting Edge Ministries received $7,260 for emergency needs and food distribution.
- ElderPoint Ministries received $10,000 for adult care assistance and food distribution.
- Family Literacy Academy at Lake Wales received $7,700 for childcare/adult care assistance and education.
- Girls Incorporated of Winter Haven received $9,000 for childcare assistance and education.
- Good Shepherd Hospice received $15,000 for emergency needs.
- Hands for Homeless received $4,318.69 for food distribution.
- Hardee Help Center received $7,500 for emergency needs.
- Heartland for Children received $7,500 for childcare assistance and shelter assistance.
- Hope Haven Transitional Housing received $5,000 for food distribution and shelter assistance.
- Inspiration Ministries received $5,000 for food distribution.
- kidsPACK received $15,000 for childcare assistance and food distribution.
- Lake Wales Care Center received $7,000 for emergency needs, food distribution, and shelter assistance.
- Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine received $15,000 for emergency needs.
- Learning Resource Center of Polk County received $5,000 for education.
- Meals on Wheels of Polk County received $12,500 for food distribution.
- Mt. Tabor Baptist Church received $15,000 for food distribution.
- Mulberry Community Service received $10,000 for emergency needs and shelter assistance.
- NU-HOPE Elder Care Services received $7,500 for food distribution.
- Parker Street Ministries received $5,300 for childcare assistance and education.
- Peace River Center received $10,000 for education and emergency needs.
- Polk Education Foundation received $14,661.50 for education.
- Talbot House Ministries of Lakeland received $7,700 for emergency needs and shelter assistance.
- The House of Israel received $4,800 for adult care assistance, emergency needs, and shelter assistance.
- Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE) received $15,000 for emergency needs and food distribution.
- Women’s Resource Center of Florida received $5,000 for emergency needs and shelter assistance.
More than 200 individual donors have contributed to the fund. Donations my be made online.
