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Impact Alamance allocates all grant funding to COVID-19

By Times-News Posted June 19, 2020 at 12:17 PM

Impact Alamance has shifted the remainder of its grant funding for 2020 to respond to community needs created by the COVID-19 crisis and allocated the funding to nonprofits, food banks and more.

This month, the Impact Alamance Board of Directors voted to allocate $190,000 to address the local impact of the pandemic.

“Our overall goal is to provide funding that will assist in meeting immediate needs, address resource gaps for vulnerable populations, and create a long-term plan for recovery in addressing inequities that have been intensified by this situation,” Tracey Grayzer, president of Impact Alamance, said.

In a recent press release, the organization said funding will be directed to assist communities of color, non-English speaking residents and those who live in areas with little supplies or services and are disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

“Now more than ever, our most vulnerable residents need help and are depending on strong nonprofits. We believe it is our role as a funding partner to respond to the needs of our community to provide immediate relief to our neighbors, while supporting our county’s vital organizations during this challenging and unprecedented time,” Grayzer said.

The Board of Directors approved $150,000 for the COVID-19 Response and Relief Fund, which supports nonprofits with operating expenses. Local organizations that benefited from this allocation include Alamance Meals on Wheels, Allied Churches, Blessed Sacrament Church – Little Portion Food Pantry, Crossroads: Sexual Assault Response & Resource Center, Family Abuse Services, Friendship Adult Day Services, OE Enterprises, Open Door Clinic, Positive Attitude Youth Center, Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club, and the Women’s Resource Center.

“Nonprofits who received funding directly serve communities of color and residents with limited English proficiency, residents without health insurance or access to paid leave, and community members who are considered low-income,” the release noted.

Also approved were allocations of $50,000 to local food pantries and distribution sites. Beneficiaries were Allied Churches, CityGate Dream Center, SAFE and The Salvation Army, who received $10,000 each to assist with their meal distribution efforts. The NC Diaper Bank also received an additional $10,000 to set up a diaper distribution site at CityGate Dream Center.

“Now that the COVID-19 Relief and Recovery fund is exhausted, Impact Alamance will use remaining grant funds to continue to address the impact of the virus,” the release said.

Funding will continue to be directed toward addressing resource gaps in underserved communities with a focus on health and education services.