Bucks County COVID-19 Recovery Fund, established in March by United Way of Bucks County, with additional funding from Penn Community Bank, is continuing to support the Bucks County community through local nonprofits.
A Woman’s Place, Bucks County Children and Youth, Family Service Association, Maternity Care Coalition, Merakey, YMCA of Bucks County and YWCA of Bucks County were all awarded grants to support those impacted by COVID-19 in Bucks County. Ivins Outreach Center was awarded a second grant in this cycle. Awards ranged from $2,000 to $5,000, and totaled $32,500.
Grants continue to focus on life-sustaining and essential human services, including some that can be hard to see.
Ifeoma Aduba, interim chief executive officer at A Woman’s Place, Bucks County’s only community benefit domestic violence organization, noted that stay-at-home restrictions currently in place increase the need for her agency’s services.
People experiencing domestic violence are in even greater danger when they are required to stay home. She added that COVID-19 also impacts survivors of domestic violence.
“For those who are just starting to live independently, the current community restrictions trigger the trauma of being victimized by power and control dynamics,” she said.
A Woman’s Place will use its grant to make HIPAA-compliant Tele-Services available to clients safely and without interruption. This includes individual counseling, group counseling, children’s counseling and legal services.
Family Service Association will use recovery funds to support Bucks County’s Emergency Homeless Shelter. This includes food and urgently needed cleaning supplies.
Maternity Care Coalition is providing its clients with essentials like formula, wipes and diapers. Its goal is to ensure families are able to access the resources they need while adhering to social distancing guidelines that protect staff and community members.
Blended case managers at Merakey, an organization specializing in developmental and behavioral health, will use funds to deliver groceries and personal hygiene items to its at-risk clients who can’t secure these things on their own.
YMCA of Bucks County is using grant funds to support Operation Compassion. One element of this project, launched in response to COVID-19, makes bathrooms, showers, meals and fresh clothing available to those who are homeless. These services are available twice a week at YMCA branches in Fairless Hills, Doylestown and Quakertown.
YWCA of Bucks County is using its grant to help people currently in its Rapid Rehousing program. These families, all of whom were previously homeless, have all experienced significant financial setbacks due to COVID-19. The grant will ensure that these families remain stably housed.
Ivins Outreach Center is using funds to continue serving a growing number of seniors and families in need of food and other necessities.
United Way of Bucks County Member Agencies will continue to submit grant applications on a rolling basis. Applications are reviewed quickly by a panel of business and nonprofit leaders. Payments are released immediately to ensure that people who experience a financial crisis due to COVID-19 get help quickly.
In addition to more than 200 individual, local donors, Penn Community Bank, Dow, BB&T (now Truist), Janssen, Foundations Community Partnership, Bucks County Foundation, Hallett Charitable Foundation, Barra Foundation, Grundy Foundation, Fegley Law Firm, and Shoprite of Hunterdon County support the fund.
Additional funds are badly needed. Donations can be made at uwbucks.org/COVIDrecovery or by mailing a check to United Way of Bucks County, 413 Hood Blvd., Fairless Hills, PA 19030, with “COVID recovery” in the memo line.
