United Way of Lake County awards $115,000 in 8th round of COVID-19 fund grants

GURNEE – United Way of Lake County announced that $115,000 has been awarded in the eighth round of Lake County COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund grants to eight local nonprofits.

This grant cycle focused on programs that eliminate barriers to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine for homebound adults and/or people of color, as well as provide access to food for those impacted by the pandemic.

The grant recipients for the eighth funding distribution are:

• A Safe Place, to provide food for survivors of domestic violence or human trafficking and their children sheltered through its emergency program.

• Community Action Partnership of Lake County, to provide hot meals to homeless individuals and families sheltered by PADS during the pandemic.

• Elderwerks, to assist seniors with vaccination appointments and to provide education outreach.

• Erie Family Health Center, to support vaccination fairs for both patients and nonpatients residing in Lake County, and outreach for people of color.

• Family Service of Lake County, to remove barriers to accessing the COVID-19 vaccine for Highwood families, as well as to provide food for those facing challenges.

• Roberti Community House, to provide vaccine education, registration and coordination for homebound adults and people of color from North Chicago, Waukegan and Zion, as well as to provide food at pop-up sites so that community members can prioritize their health needs.

• Rosalind Franklin University, to support Community Care Connection, a free, mobile health program to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines for medically underserved communities, particularly for communities of color and people with limited mobility in Lake County.

• West Side Community Center, to provide consistent, nutritious meals for students and their families with limited resources or access to grocery stores through its Seeds 4 Success program. Goal is to educate students to cultivate, plant, grow, harvest and distribute fresh fruits and vegetables from their community gardens.

The Lake County COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund unites funds raised by philanthropies, corporations and individuals to support nonprofits on the front lines of the crisis addressing Lake County’s greatest needs.

United Way of Lake County staff and Community Impact Council volunteers have moved swiftly to disburse eight rounds of funding. The group’s priorities in choosing how to disburse the funds are derived from information gathered on current and emerging needs, existing funding available, evidence cited in funding request applications, and with input from a range of community organizations.

Since the fund was launched on March 20, 2020, $1,117,317 has been granted back into the community to provide rapid relief to 47 nonprofits so they can continue their work serving our most vulnerable neighbors.

For information about the Lake County COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund or to donate, visit LIVEUNITEDlakecounty.org/covid19.