United Way of the CSRA and the Community Foundation for the CSRA announced $170,000 will be distributed to local nonprofits in the fourth round of grants provided through the CSRA COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. The United Way and Community Foundation announced the creation of this emergency fund on March 20 to provide needed resources to nonprofit organizations on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic serving our most vulnerable populations. To date, $696,000 has been directed to local relief efforts across the first four phases of grants from the fund.

The following organizations will receive a collective $170,000 as part of the fourth round of grants:

SafeHomes ($50,000) – Due to COVID-19’s shelter in place directives and pressures around loss of income, SafeHomes is seeing an increase in women and children who are fleeing from domestic abuse or who need resources to help with stressors in the home. This grant will help pay for those needed resources to include costs associated with housing additional families and providing hotels when the shelter has no available space.

Community Medical Clinic of Aiken County (CMCAC) ($30,000) – This grant will help this health clinic with the increased costs for additional personal protective equipment (PPE), staff hours and technology associated with COVID-19. Additionally, these dollars will provide prescription assistance for patients who are suffering from hardships brought about by the virus.

CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority, Inc. (EOA) ($25,000) – Due to COVID-19, EOA is receiving an increased number of calls from individuals needing housing assistance. This grant will help stabilize those individuals, providing needed resources that will allow them to stay in their home and not become homeless. Also, dollars will be used to help people find housing who have been evicted due to a loss of income.

ForcesUnited ($25,000) – During the COVID-19 crisis, ForcesUnited remains dedicated to connecting warriors and their families with resources that improve and stabilize their lives. This grant will assist with the escalating needs faced by these individuals who have raised their hand to serve our country and will include assistance with employment, housing and food needs due to this pandemic.

Christ Community Health Services ($20,000) – Masks have proven to be a vital part of preventing the spread of COVID-19. Through a partnership with Carole Fabrics, Christ Community will use these dollars to purchase 4,000 locally made masks and distribute them to patients of Christ Community Health Services and other vulnerable populations in the greater Augusta area.

Communities in School of Augusta Richmond County (CIS) ($15,000) – This grant will provide vital services such as assistance with shelter and utility costs, food, medical needs, transportation costs and childcare to families impacted by COVID-19 that have been referred to CIS by school principals, teachers and counselors in both the Richmond and Columbia County school systems.

Burn Foundation of America ($5,000) – Due to hospital visitor restrictions because of COVID-19, families are unable to visit with family members who are receiving treatment at the JMS Burn Center at Doctors Hospital. Connection to family has proven to be a vital piece of a person’s ability to heal from critical burns, and many patients do not have access to their own devices during treatment. This grant will pay for tablets that will allow families to visit remotely while the patient receives care.

For a list of all grants given to date, please visit www.cfcsra.org/COVID-19Recipients.