Grants totaling $107,500 distributed for flood relief

Press release from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina:

The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) approved five grants totaling $107,500 from its Emergency and Disaster Response Fund to nonprofits addressing response and relief efforts in counties significantly affected by the recent floods.

The grants support frontline nonprofits meeting immediate needs or those whose ability to provide services was directly affected by the floods. Nonprofits use a simple, expedited process to access funds with grants awarded on a rolling basis.

The grants are:

$75,000 to The Community Kitchen to purchase equipment necessary to reopen its community facility that provides meals and food distribution in Haywood County

$10,000 to Thirtieth Judicial District Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Alliance to provide temporary housing and replace household goods for flood victims

$10,000 to Mountain Projects to restore equipment and material damaged by flooding for Canton Head Start and Canton Senior Center

$10,000 to the American Red Cross serving Western North Carolina to provide cleaning supplies, access to health and mental health care, and replacement of prescription medicine and medical devices, as well as immediate financial assistance for basic needs, including food, clothing and lodging in Haywood and Transylvania counties

$2,500 to Beaverdam Community Development Club to continue feeding the community while serving an increase in clients due to the recent flood

“Last week, our friends and neighbors in Haywood and Transylvania counties suffered serious losses of lives and property due to intense flooding from Tropical Depression Fred,” said CFWNC President Elizabeth Brazas.  “We are grateful to local nonprofits that know their communities and have boots on the ground and are providing the critical early response. We are also deeply grateful for and inspired by the army of volunteers from across WNC and beyond that has shown up to help.”

In addition to CFWNC and a lead gift from Dogwood Health Trust, funders include WNC Bridge Foundation, Mission Health, Wicked Weed Brewing and donations from CFWNC fundholders and the community.

If you wish to support aid to those affected by flooding, you can donate to the Emergency and Disaster Response Fund atwww.cfwnc.org. Administrative fees are waived so that every dollar will go directly to assistance.

Bringing people together to address regional issues is a key role of community foundations. You can learn more about this collaborative response or apply to the Emergency and Disaster Response Fund at cfwnc.org.