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More than 20 nonprofits serving South Jersey are receiving grants aimed at helping these critical organizations weather the devastation caused by COVID-19 and serve families across the region. The Community Foundation of South Jersey (CFSJ) today announced its first round of grantees since launching the COVID-19 Response Fund in late March.
The grants total $100,000 for nonprofits serving: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem Counties. These grants address only the first 15 percent of requests received by the Community Foundation to date. Additional rounds will be announced in the coming days and weeks.
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“This pandemic is devastating South Jersey communities, with the brunt of impact on our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Andy Fraizer, Executive Director. “South Jersey neighbors and organizations responded quickly to our call for help in meeting the growing need.” The Community Foundation has commitments and pledges for more than $800,000. Requests for funding total more than $1.5 million, with new requests arriving daily.
The Fund is the only such effort focused solely on the 8-county South Jersey region. It was established by a coalition of local residents, business and philanthropic partners to rapidly deploy flexible grant dollars to the nonprofit sector serving South Jersey.
Nonprofit organizations – the backbone of our communities — are on the frontlines of fighting back. They provide food, healthcare, and other crucial services where and when people need them most. “But our nonprofits are getting slammed too,” Fraizer said. “Many are laying off key staff and bleeding resources – a one-two punch that threatens the organizations and the people they serve. That’s why it’s time to help the helpers.”
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The Fund is making grants in multiple rounds based on three categories.
- Phase one: Triage – Immediate response to increased demand for services to meet economic security needs from South Jersey nonprofits.
- Phase two: Treatment – Grants for nonprofits forced to modify their delivery modes due to COVID-19 and needing assistance to do so.
- Phase three: Recovery – These grants will fund nonprofits facing extreme difficulty because of lost revenue due to closures and event cancellations, as well as other business model challenges resulting from the pandemic.
“We are grateful for contributions of any size from South Jersey neighbors who are able to give for immediate needs and a brighter recovery,” said Wanda Hardy, Chairperson of the Foundation’s Community Leadership and Engagement Committee.
For more details on making donations, funding priorities and how to apply, please visit southjerseyresponsefund.org.
Grant Award Descriptions
A Need We Feed – Toms River
Observing an increased demand for meals and more difficulty for their clients to be able to travel and pay for food, A Need We Feed will purchase hot meals from local restaurants for distribution at social service organizations throughout Ocean County, including organizations that serve homebound seniors, veterans, homeless and children and families.
Arc of Salem County – Salem
Having to shut down day programs for clients, Arc of Salem County staff have reorganized employees to deliver services remotely as well as in person at clients’ homes throughout Salem County. Still operating group homes, they will purchase personal protective equipment for their employees to continue to deliver services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
AtlantiCare Foundation – Egg Harbor Township
Experiencing an extreme increase in demand, AtlantiCare Foundation will purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) for patients and staff at hospitals in Atlantic City and Pomona.
Beacon of Hope – Mount Holly
Observing an increase in demand for emergency assistance services, Beacon of Hope has adapted its food distribution protocol directly to clients’ homes using personal protective equipment, and is providing meals to children through surrounding schools. They are providing meals, shelter and clothing to families throughout South Jersey.
Christian Caring Center – Pemberton
Christian Caring Center will provide food through a drive-thru pantry, diapers, shelter (through motels and two managed shelters), and case management services to families in Burlington County.
Community Food Bank of New Jersey – Hillside
CFBNJ is seeing increased demand for food and a decrease in food donations. As a result, CFBNJ has streamlined its food distribution process, but must still purchase additional food to meet the demand. With this grant funding, CFBNJ will continue ongoing distribution to clients and agency partners through its Community Assistance Pantry, distribute Emergency Meal Kits to partner agencies in Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May and Cumberland counties and coordinate large-scale distribution of food and essential goods to high-capacity partners.
Community Medical Center Foundation – Toms River
Serving the second-highest senior population in the country, RWJBarnabas Health’s Community Medical Center (Ocean County’s largest healthcare facility), is experiencing an extreme increase in demand for healthcare services. With grant funding the organization will purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) for patients and staff.
Eim Leah – Lakewood
Eim Leah will deliver fresh daily meals to postpartum mothers and their families in Ocean County.
Family Promise of Southwest New Jersey – Glassboro
Observing both an increased demand for services as other shelters close and the need to modify facilities to allow for social distancing, Family Promise of Southwest New Jersey will purchase food, paper products, toiletries, laundry materials and other necessities for families in Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties.
Gateway Community Action Partnership – Bridgeton
Designated as the Community Action Partnership (CAP) for Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties, Gateway CAP will replenish food banks emptied due to increased demand and continue to distribute food to individuals, families and seniors throughout South Jersey.
Help & Hope Ministries – Millville
A partner of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Help & Hope Ministries will purchase additional food to meet increased demands for food from families who have lost jobs due to COVID-19.
Lakewood Community Services Corporation – Lakewood
Observing an increased demand for its senior meal program and outpatient mental health services, LCSC will deliver meals to seniors in Ocean County who are isolated at home and unable to travel.
LUCY Outreach – Camden
In response to COVID-19, LUCY Outreach has transitioned services for youth and families in Camden County from in person to remote delivery. LUCY Outreach will directly help families with access to food assistance, prescription medication, housing, utilities support, furniture, toiletries, feminine products, baby food and diapers.
Mid-Atlantic States Career & Education Center – Pennsville
Having had to close work-readiness and high school equivalency exam preparation programs, MASCEC has modified its food distribution process to meet the food security needs of families in Salem and Gloucester counties, as well as disabled veterans in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties too. MASCEC will purchase additional food, supplementing donations from organizations to meet increased demand.
Parkside Business & Community in Partnership – Camden
PBCIP will expand its Food Bucks Prescription program to additional Camden families, to be redeemed for fresh produce from local corner stores, mobile food markets and food pantries.
Prevent Child Abuse – New Jersey Chapter – New Brunswick
Observing increased stress from parents experiencing a loss of income due to changes in their employment, Prevent Child Abuse will provide diapers to families participating in evidence-based home visiting and teen parenting programs. Providing diapers not only meet a basic health and hygiene need for children, but also reduces parental stress (the most common reason a child may be neglected or abused).
Revive SJ – Bridgeton
Observing an increase in unemployment experienced by families from the Hispanic immigrant community in Cumberland County, Revive SJ will provide emergency relief funds to families affected by COVID-19. These funds will help cover the costs of medication, food, gas and transportation and other necessities.
Salvation Army Kroc Center – Camden
Observing a rise in clients as other pantries close or scale back, and as more people need help, the Salvation Army Kroc Center has modified its operations to provide contactless distribution at its Choice Food Pantry. The Kroc Center will support these modifications with additional food and staff, as well as personal protective equipment.
Shore Medical Center – Somers Point
Primarily serving Atlantic and Cape May counties, Shore Medical Center is experiencing an extreme increase in demand for healthcare services. Funding will purchase personal protective equipment for its frontline healthcare workforce.
Temple Lutheran Church – Pennsauken
Experiencing a 50 percent increase in clientele at its Lida Knaus Food Pantry, Temple Lutheran Church will purchase additional food from its partner, the Food Bank of South Jersey, as well as provide fresh produce, eggs, diapers (adult and baby) and toiletries to Camden County residents. Grant funds will also allow the pantry to increase the frequency of food distribution, from once to twice a month, for families in need.
Urban Promise Ministries – Camden
Urban Promise Ministries helps Camden and Pennsauken families secure needed resources through the Emergency Family Fund. Urban Promise will provide families with emergency support such as food, diapers, sanitizing supplies or utility assistance.
Volunteers of America Delaware Valley – Camden
To continue serving clients in emergency shelters, affordable housing communities, reentry programs and homeless prevention programs across Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties VOADV will purchase needed personal protective equipment, sanitation supplies and emergency food supplies.
Your Place at the Table – Mullica Hill
Despite observing growing needs for food from families, Your Place at the Table was forced to cancel food drives typically held with local partners. These drives normally supply the food necessary to feed Gloucester County families, seniors and single parents, so Your Place at the Table will purchase food for families in need.
About the Community Foundation of South Jersey:
The Community Foundation of South Jersey (CFSJ) envisions an eight-county region thriving where all neighbors aspire, succeed, participate, and give.
The vision is realized as CFSJ inspires generosity, manages and deploys permanent charitable assets, and exercises collaborative leadership to create a more equitable region.
CFSJ works with South Jersey philanthropists, local nonprofits, and neighbors to build capital, contribute assets, and create permanent endowments for impact in perpetuity.
By aligning donor interests and using the investment earnings on each of its endowed funds, CFSJ makes grants and builds leadership within the community to create thriving, equitable, and livable communities for all. Currently, CFSJ manages assets of more than $23 million. CFSJ has issued more than $9 million in nonprofit grants and scholarships.
Learn more about CFSJ at CommunityFoundationSJ.org.