A grant from the Kansas Health Foundation will help provide better access to food for those in Barton County coping with the COVID-19 pademic, the County Commission learned Monday morning. A foundations Healthy Community Initiative Health Equity Mini-Grant totalling $18,908 was awarded to the Great Bend Senior Center.
“This project was a resident-led approach to address COVID-19 related food storage and preservation to respond to the increase in demand for meal preparation and delivery services for the elderly in Great Bend, Hoisington, Ellinwood and LaCrosse,” said Sue Cooper, county grant administrator. The funds will be used to purchase food preservation equipment such as refrigeration, freezers, shelving and preparation areas at the Great Bend Senior Center. The commission authorized the pass through of funds to the center.
The Kansas Health Foundation recently announced the grant recipients for the 2020 Impact and Capacity Grants (ICG) Initiative. The ICG Initiative provides one-year grants of up to $25,000 for nonprofits mission-aligned with KHF, focused on COVID-19 response and recovery. There were 91 grants awarded to nonprofit, faith-based and government organizations, totaling more than $2 million.
“The KHF board embraced the opportunity to repurpose these funds to quickly react to the impact COVID-19 is having on our state,” said Matt Allen, chair of the KHF Board of Directors. “These funds will assist organizations as they respond to Kansans in need and provide core operations support to sustain their organizations during these uniquely difficult financial times.”
Prompted by the urgent need to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, KHF advanced the application launch date, and due to overwhelming response, closed the initiative within two weeks. KHF fielded 477 funding proposals from organizations across the state.
“This surge of requests for COVID-19 assistance demonstrates clearly that Kansans are experiencing overwhelming need as we grapple with this unprecedented crisis,” said Reggie Robinson, KHF president and CEO. “We’re proud to support these vital organizations as they continue to serve their clients and communities.”
To date, KHF has authorized more than $16.3 million to support emergency COVID-19 response and recovery efforts across Kansas.
County received COVID-19-related grants
The Barton County Commission Monday morning learned the Great Bend Senior Center received an $18,000 grant from the Kansas Health Foundation to help with food preparation and storage during the COVID-19 pandemic. But, county Grant Administrator Sue Cooper said the county has received other grants as well.
• The Kansas Health Foundation grant awarded an impact and capacity grant for $25,000 to the county to support response and recovery activities, includes protective glass and other security measures, postage a variety of things
• Midwest Energy Community Fund awarded $500 for Juvenile Services. It’s to support a healthy environment and to educate the community and kids about the dangers of substance use.
• The Walmart Community Grant Fund awarded $750 to support COVID-19 respond to recovery activities.
