We’ve reached day 40 of Illinois’ Stay-at-home order and, though social distancing may be helping protect us from COVID-19, there’s a growing number of people in our community who are suffering from the pandemic’s less seen side-effects.
In the three weeks since the Barrington Area United Way (BAUW) & Barrington Area Community Foundation (BACF) launched the Barrington Area COVID Response Fund, the number of people requesting help is increasing. More than a dozen applications for funds have been received from organizations supporting local families, individuals and seniors struggling to meet basic needs such as food, shelter and emotional support or counseling.
Click here or visit BAUW.org/covid19 to help local families seeking support today.
The Barrington Area Community Foundation Board of Directors has approved a special $100,000 challenge grant that will match, dollar for dollar, donations made to the Barrington Area COVID Response Fund. Organizers are asking for our help in growing the fund through donations. They say every dollar counts.
According to the Barrington Area United Way, the need for food security has DOUBLED in our region. Food pantries are seeing twice the number of families and there has been a sharp need for such services as The Community Meal, Meals with Wheels and Blessings in a Backpack.
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Community Health Coordinator and Healthier Barrington Coalition leader, Keeley Gallaugher says the need is significant. “There is a substantial increase in those who are food insecure, including those who are food insecure for the first time in their lives,” Gallaugher says.
The Barrington Area COVID Response Fund will support local nonprofits providing urgent resources to individuals and families disproportionately impacted by the COVID virus. The fund will also support not-for-profit organizations that are experiencing financial hardship or providing increased support services to individuals and families not qualified for coverage by other avenues.
Qualified agencies are asked to complete an online application located on the Barrington Area United Way website as their needs arise. The Barrington Area COVID Response Fund Allocations Committee will review the applications, make grant recommendations and, with the approval of the Response Fund Steering Committee, will deploy funds on an ongoing basis. The applications deadlines for the first three rounds of funding are on April 30, May 15 and June 15, 2020. Grants will be distributed within 7-10 days after application deadlines. Future distribution dates will be posted at BAUW.org. Response will be coordinated through key partners in the Barrington non-profit community.
We all can make a meaningful difference in our community.
Click here or visit BAUW.org/covid19 to help local families seeking support today.
Since its founding in 1999, BACF has granted over $2.5 million in the form of over 350 grants to 100 different Barrington area NFP through its own annual grant cycle. Learn more about BACF at: www.barringtonareacommunityfoundation.org.
BAUW has been serving the community for 65 years and has allocated over $15 million to agency programs providing the most critical health and human services to our residents. For more information, visit the BAUW website at www.bauw.org.
The Healthier Barrington Coalition is a membership of 25 NPF and governmental organizations that meet regularly to promote and improve the mental and physical health of those in the Barrington area. HBC surveys the community about every 3 years. Click here For the most recent report and a list of Healthier Barrington Coalition members.
For more information about the Barrington Area COVID Response fund, visit BAUW.org.
