The Foundation for Delaware County and The Community’s Foundation today announced the first round of grants from the Delaware County Rapid Response Fund, established earlier this month to help address urgent needs created by federal and state budget delays, disruption in SNAP benefits, and ongoing economic hardships.
A total of $131,500 has been awarded to 23 nonprofits, each receiving a support grant to help meet emergency needs outlined in their proposals.
“The Delaware County Rapid Response Fund is an assist to frontline organizations that are delivering emergency assistance, such as food, housing/shelter, and other basic needs,” said Michael Kellerman, President of The Foundation for Delaware County. “The needs in our community are significant, and they far exceed the resources available through the Response Fund.”
The Rapid Response Fund helps nonprofits already stretched thin by reduced federal funding and the growing economic strain caused by the federal government shutdown and delayed state budget, both of which have contributed to hardships for thousands of Delaware County residents who are struggling to meet basic needs like food, healthcare, and housing. The Foundation for Delaware County and The Community’s Foundation seeded the fund with an initial investment of $25,000 each, totaling $50,000. The Saunders House Foundation also generously contributed $50,000.
“These organizations are doing remarkable work in the county. They are trusted partners that can deliver immediate services during this crisis to meet the basic needs of vulnerable residents,” said Dierdre Konar, President of The Community’s Foundation
“These funds will support almost three months of mortgage payments for DAP’s emergency safe house, a crucial need for our community and those fleeing domestic violence,” said Michelle Brown, Executive Director of the Domestic Abuse Project (DAP). “The state budget impasse, the federal government shutdown, and changes in funding under the administration have become a perfect, devastating storm to many human service agencies, DAP included. The Rapid Response Fund gives us a little breathing room as we wait for state funding to be released and cover hundreds of thousands of dollars owed to DAP for work that has been done since July 1. We are grateful to The Foundation for Delaware County and The Community’s Foundation for leading this effort, and especially to those who have contributed to the fund since its launch.”
To learn more about the Fund, visit The Foundation for Delaware County website: https://delcofoundation.org/
Delaware County Rapid Response Fund Grants:
AFA Agency: All For All Agency
$5,000 to provide emergency food assistance to 200 residents of the William Penn School District.
BFRIN
$4,000 to provide essential food to residents of Delaware County through weekly food pantries located in Ridley Park, Tinicum, and Upper Darby.
Caring for Friends
$5,000 to support restocking partner pantries in Delaware County and to support Delaware County Homebound Meals recipients.
CCSA Foundation
$5,000 to provide emergency food assistance to families at CCSA who are food insecure due to recent reductions or loss of SNAP benefits.
Chester Eastside, Inc.
$5,000 to address food insecurity in Delaware County
Chester Housing Initiative, Inc.
$10,000 to expand the number of food boxes for families and increase the amount of food in each box.
Community Action Agency of Delaware County, Inc. (CAADC)
$5,000 to provide food vouchers and to increase support for CAADC’s food pantry.
Delco Helping Hands Association
$5,000 to expand support for families in need.
Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County, Inc.
$10,000 to provide emergency housing support resulting from the loss of funding from FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program.
Drexel Neumann Academy
$5,000 to provide food support to students at Drexel Neumann Academy.
Family Support Line
$5,000 to provide essential services resulting from the loss of funds from the District Attorney’s office.
Feeding The 4,000
$2,500 to sustain and expand essential food services during this period of economic disruption.
Health Educated, Inc.
$5,000 to directly support families with grocery gift cards impacted by the recent SNAP funding delays.
Making a Change Group
$7,000 to provide families with healthy meals and grocery store gift cards.
Maternity Care Coalition
$5,000 to support Delaware County residents who were affected by the government shutdown and disruption of regularly distributed SNAP benefits.
Media Food Bank
$5,000 to purchase food and essential items to benefit residents of Delaware County affected by the economic crisis.
Multicultural Community Family Services
$9,000 to support the direct purchase and delivery of nutritious and culturally appropriate foods for families, seniors, and individuals in need.
Murphy’s Giving Market
$9,000 to support food purchases and meet rising demand to ensure no family is turned away.
Neighbor to Neighbor Community Dev. Corp.
$5,000 to purchase perishable and non‐perishable foods for distribution to vulnerable populations in their service area.
Rising Hope For Change
$5,000 to address the rapidly escalating food insecurity, housing instability, and the economic strain facing low‐income families in Delaware County.
The Minority Center for Participation & Empowerment
$5,000 to provide immediate emergency groceries and food vouchers, emergency rent and utility assistance to families facing food insecurity, housing instability, and economic hardship due to the federal shutdown and delayed state budget.
Trinity Transitional House Inc.
$5,000 to provide safe, temporary housing for individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability as a result of the economic crisis, ensuring immediate safety and stability.
Wayne Cares Inc
$5,000 to support bulk food purchases and meal delivery service.
For more information, please contact Katy Lichtenstein, Vice President of Communications at klichtenstein@delcofoundation.org or call 610.744.1017.
