News

HoCoRespond awards over $400,000 the last two weeks to Howard County nonprofits

The Community Foundation of Howard County, Horizon Foundation, United Way of Central Maryland and Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County today announced $202,500 in emergency grants to 20 Howard County nonprofits addressing COVID-19 needs. The collaborative effort that began in March, called HoCoRespond, has now awarded a total of $407,500 in the last two weeks to 32 nonprofits meeting food security, housing, childcare and healthcare needs.

“The full scope of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is yet to be seen, but it will be detrimental to many of our residents and communities,” said County Executive Calvin Ball. “We are very thankful for the work of the HoCoFunders and encourage all Howard County residents and businesses to support these efforts.”

The grant announcement comes on #GivingTuesdayNow, a new global day of giving and unity taking place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented community issues caused by COVID-19.

The $202,500 in COVID-19 emergency grants will go to the following organizations serving Howard County:

• American Red Cross Greater Chesapeake Region: $10,000 to support disaster-related efforts.
• Asian American Healthcare Center Inc.: $10,000 to support healthcare-related efforts for uninsured and/or low-income Asian residents.
• Bridges to Housing Stability Inc.: $5,000 to provide basic supplies, food and emergency financial assistance to households destabilized by COVID-19.
• Bridgeway Community Church: $5,000 to support the Bridgeway Community Cupboard emergency food distribution efforts.
• Center for Children, Inc.: $18,000 to provide telehealth services to 122 poverty-level families enrolled in its Care Coordination Program.
• FISH of Howard County, Inc.: $5,000 to address food, financial assistance and other needs.
• Fuel Fund of Maryland: $5,000 to provide utility assistance to vulnerable households.
• Howard Hospital Foundation: $15,000 to provide staff and vulnerable discharged patients with essential food items, paper products and prepared meals.
• Indian Cultural Association of Howard County: $15,000 to support the Lentil Pop-Up food pantry and prescription assistance.
• Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington: $5,000 to meet food needs by providing culturally sensitive food options for low- and moderate-income Korean and Chinese residents.
• Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services, Inc.: $10,000 for emergency assistance and supplies for Laurel-area residents.
• National Family Resiliency Center: $5,000 to provide free or low-cost mental health services for clients in crisis due to job loss or furlough.
• Open Doors Food Pantry at Mount Zion United Methodist Church: $7,500 to support emergency food distribution efforts.
• The Arc of Howard County, Inc.: $25,000 to purchase equipment and supplies to provide support services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• The Salvation Army: $10,000 to provide emergency assistance, food and supplies.
• Wilde Lake High School Parent Teacher Student Association: $22,000 to support the purchase of food and essential supplies for the Wilde Lake High School Teen Parenting program, Homewood School Food Pantry and the efforts of Columbia Community Care.
• Winter Growth, Inc.: $15,000 to provide supplies and emergency support for seniors in the assisted living and adult daycare program.
• Y in Central Maryland: $15,000 to support food distribution events in partnership with Ridgley’s Run Community Center.

“We are pleased to continue to work with our great partners and members of the community to address Howard County’s COVID-19 emergency needs,” said Franklyn Baker, president and CEO of United Way of Central Maryland. “We are proud that our collective grantmaking is working to advance equity by focusing on cultural, racial, ethnic, geographic and ability diversity in the organizations we are funding.”

The Howard County Health Department reported 990 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Howard County as of Monday, May 4, and 27 people have died. The number of cases is projected to continue to rise, putting great strain on frontline nonprofits and health services across the county.

“Unfortunately, COVID-19 will continue to hurt our communities for weeks and months to come,” said Nikki Highsmith Vernick, president and CEO of the Horizon Foundation. “We grieve for those affected by COVID-19, and we will continue to help bring our Howard County community together to provide emergency and ongoing support to those in need.”

The HoCoRespond philanthropies are continuing to coordinate fundraising to provide critical resources to nonprofits in Howard County, and hope to undertake a third round of funding in the near future.

“This collective funding effort is available because of the many donors who have generously investing in HoCoRespond,” said Beverly White-Seals, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Howard County. “We are in an unprecedented crisis, but we are so gratified at how the community has come together to take care of one another.”

Those looking to help can donate to the following COVID-19 emergency funds:

• The Community Foundation of Howard County has its Howard County Community Relief Fund to address ongoing emergencies in Howard County. Members of the community and fund holders at the foundation are invited to donate.

• The United Way of Central Maryland has established the COVID-19 Community Fund for Central Maryland to support the community, and in particular, support those who operate on the frontlines of providing help and resources to those in need. Community members are invited to donate.

• The Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County has established the WGC COVID-19 Fund  to address unprecedented COVID-19 community needs. WGC donors and members of the community are invited to donate.

“On this global day of giving in response to COVID-19 emergency needs, we are proud to be part of a community that is stepping up to support our friends and neighbors,” said Barb Van Winkle, chair of the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County. “We are utilizing our unique strengths on #GivingTuesdayNow to make a bigger difference together than we might otherwise make alone.”