TERRE HAUTE, Ind – United Way of the Wabash Valley and the Wabash Valley Community Foundation have continued over the past two weeks to issue grant disbursements from the Wabash Valley COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. The fund was created in late March with a priority is to assist organizations helping individuals and families with immediate COVID-19 related needs, but funds are also used for support of non-profit infrastructure impacted by the economic effects of the state’s stay-at-home orders.

Danielle Isbell, Resource Development Director for United Way explained how applications for funding have continued to demonstrate the level of need in the community. “Each week we continue to see so many social service agencies and child cares faced with continuing food, PPE and cleaning supply needs to keep up with the impacts from the pandemic. While the Wabash Valley is starting to open back up, the need continues.” Isbell remarked that during these past few especially trying weeks in our nation, it has been rewarding to see all the good that our community it doing to “help our neighbors.”

Since late May, the following organizations were granted $41,000 while serving the 6-county area that includes Clay, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo Counties in Indiana and Clark County in Illinois:

• $5,000 for Council on Domestic Abuse – increased food and cleaning supply expenses with decreased pantry and supply donations.
• $5,000 for Human Resources Center of Edgar and Clark Counties– purchase of laptop, cloudkey and hotspot for telehealth services. Also purchasing disinfection lamps.
• $5,000 for Marshall Area Youth Network – to provide STEM packets and books that will be sent home weekly during their student summer lunch program.
• $5,000 for Providence Food Pantry of West Terre Haute – purchase food for pantry; increased need for food pantry and loss of fundraisers.
• $3,000 for United Child Care Center– purchase a washer and dryer to stay compliant with sanitation standards for blankets, towels, cloths etc.
• $3,000 for Saint Joseph University Parish – purchase food for distribution; increased need and loss of donations.
• $5,000 for Camp Navigate, Inc.– purchase portable handwashing water stations that will be placed around camp and to help offset the cost for professional sanitation of facility.
• $5,000 for Covenant Cooperative Ministry– purchase food and necessities
• $3,000 for Just 4 Kids Day Care– install washer and dryer to stay compliant with sanitation standards for blankets, towels, cloths etc.
• $2,000 for Raggedy Ann Child Care & Preschool– cleaning and sanitizing supplies

Since March 24th, the fund has now awarded more than $406,000 in emergency community support services related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials stated that funds remain for further disbursements and applications are reviewed weekly. Those organizations wanting to apply can request up to a maximum of $5,000. Updated eligibility and application guidelines for the grants are available at uwwv.org/covid. Organizations seeking funding are encouraged to review these guidelines