Berks County Community Foundation has released $307,800 in emergency grants to 59 Berks County nonprofit organizations to fill critical gaps in funding that have occurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funding from the Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Nonprofit Continuity Grants program will help with unexpected expenses or revenue losses that are not otherwise recoverable by the stimulus measures that the government has put into place.
The disbursements from this program could not come close to satisfying $2,435,203 in funding requests the Community Foundation received from 173 organizations.
“We are working to seek additional resources to assist local nonprofits because we know that government stimulus measures and our emergency grant program will not be enough to sustain all of our local nonprofits,” said Kevin K. Murphy, Community Foundation President. “Many of these organizations are working harder than ever, expending more resources than before, and facing unprecedented financial hardship.”
The Community Foundation recently surveyed Berks County nonprofits about the impact of the economic crisis caused by the pandemic. The responses indicated tremendous financial stress in every part of the nonprofit sector, said Heidi Williamson, Senior Vice President for Programs and Initiatives at the Community Foundation.
“Organizations from across Berks County need assistance. Some, like the local food pantries, are working every day to meet a growing need among friends and neighbors, many of whom never had to reach out for help before. And as the recovery begins, all of the places that make a community feel like home – think of the arts venues, nature trails, historical societies, libraries, faith groups, and so many others – will need financial support to restart their work,” Williamson said. “People often ask us where they should donate.
“Our best guidance is to make as generous a contribution as you comfortably can to the organizations that matter most to you.”
Grants distributed
$20,000
GoggleWorks Center for the Arts
Helping Harvest
Opportunity House
The Salvation Army-Reading
$15,000
Berks Coalition to End Homelessness
$10,000
Berks Nature
Boyertown Area Multi-Service
New Journey Community Outreach
Olivet Boys & Girls Club
Prospectus Berco
Reading Recreation Commission
The Salvation Army-Boyertown
The Salvation Army – Service Extension (NE Berks)
$7,500
Shady Hollow Assisted Riding
$7,300
Hannah’s Hope Ministries
$6,000
Fleetwood Area Public Library
$5,000
Breast Cancer Support Services of Berks County
Centre Park Historic District, Inc.
Habitat for Humanity of Berks County
Hope Rescue Mission
Our Town Foundation (Hamburg)
Studio B (through Building a Better Boyertown)
YMCA of Reading & Berks County
Yocum Institute for Arts Education
$4,000
CASA of Berks County
$3,800
The Rudden Family Foundation
$3,500
Leesport Lock House Foundation
$3,000
Crisis Pregnancy Center of Kutztown
$2,500
Art Plus Gallery
Berks Sinfonietta, Inc.
Clay on Main
Genesius Theatre
Hamburg Area Historical Society
Opus One Berks Chamber Choir
Reading Choral Society
Reading Theater Project
Ringgold Band Inc.
$2,000
Boone Area Library
Exeter Library Association
Kutztown Community Library
Mifflin Community Library
Village Library of Morgantown
Muhlenberg Community Library
Oley Valley Community Library
Schuylkill Valley Community Library
Spring Township Library Association
Bernardine Franciscan Sisters
Hamburg Vol. Forest Fire Crew Inc.
The Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania
The LGBT Center of Greater Reading
$1,500
Leesport Area Historical Society
$1,000
Berks County Genealogical Society
Berks Military History Museum
Fleetwood Community Theatre
Reading Flotilla training base
The Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead
$900
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Berks County
Fleetwood Community Bus Inc.
Million Youth Chess Club
