Valley COVID-19 Fund Dishes First Round Of Grants

The Valley’s COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund announced $78,800 in grants to 18 agencies Monday.

The fund is a collaboration between the Valley Community Foundation, Valley United Way, the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Valley Council of Health & Human Services.

Monday’s announcement was the first round of funding and was aimed at organizations at the front of the COVID-19 crisis.

Applications are now open for the second round of funding. Applications are due April 27. Click here for more information.

Click here to donate.

Here is the list of organizations that have received first-round funding:

• Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut, Inc. – $2,000 to provide food for homebound older adults and those over the age of 18 with disabilities.

• Area Congregations Together, Inc. – $5,000 to support the purchase of personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies, and to support additional staff hours.

• Area Congregations Together, Inc. – $5,000 to provide general operating support.

• BHcare – $3,000 to support the purchase of personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies for its facilities.

• Christ Episcopal Church – $5,000 to provide general operating support for the Kathleen Samela Food Pantry.

• Community Residences, Inc. – $2,000 to support the purchase of personal protective equipment for its three locations in Derby and Shelton serving developmentally disabled adults.

• Cornell Scott Hill Health Corporation – $2,500 to support the purchase of personal protective equipment.

• Echo Hose Hook and Ladder Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc. – $5,000 to support the purchase of personal protective equipment and/or cleaning equipment.

• Griffin Hospital – $5,000 to support the purchase of personal protective equipment and related supplies needed by hospital staff.

• Naugatuck Valley Health District – $3,200 to support the purchase of four laptops to enable staff to work remotely.

• Salvation Army, Greater Valley Corps – $5,000 to provide general operating support.

• Seymour Oxford Food Bank – $5,000 to provide general operating support.

• St. Vincent de Paul of the Valley – $5,000 to provide general operating support.

• Storm Engine Company Ambulance Corps, Inc. – $5,000 to support the purchase of personal protective equipment and/or cleaning equipment.

• TEAM, Inc. – $5,000 to support providing food, diapers, and medications for those impacted by COVID-19, as well as housing and utilities assistance, childcare support for essential workers, and interventions due to loss of wages.

• United Methodist Homes – $5,000 to support the purchase of personal protective equipment and/or cleaning equipment, and for any surge rate increases for staffing for Wesley Village.

• Valley Council for Health and Human Services – $3,600 to support the costs to deep clean the following four food pantries: Salvation Army, Greater Valley Corps, St. Vincent de Paul of the Valley, Kathleen Samela Food Pantry, and Seymour Oxford Food Bank.

• Visiting Nurse Association of South Central Connecticut – $5,000 to support the purchase of personal protective equipment and related supplies needed by field staff serving residents from Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, and Shelton.

• Central Connecticut Coast YMCA – $2,500 to support the purchase of personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies for the Valley YMCA​’s residential facility in Ansonia.

“Thanks to many very generous individuals, corporations, and foundations, we’ve been able to rapidly deploy their gifts to our community’s nonprofits to support their workers’ front line activities during this crisis,” said David Kennedy, interim president of the Valley United Way in Shelton. ​“It is a humbling example of how our community Lives United. We look forward to additional gifts to continue what has begun as the needs in the community only increase.”

Within one month of inception, the Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund has received nearly $175,000 thanks to the contributions of individuals, businesses, and VCF donor advised fund holders, according to a statement sent Monday.

Donations are still urgently needed as the fund will be assisting a range of organizations serving the Valley throughout both the response and recovery phases of this pandemic.

Among the key funders to date is the Bassett Family Fund.

William C. Bassett is a founding member of the Valley Community Foundation Board of Directors and former owner of The W. E. Bassett Co.

“When we owned our company, the Valley and its people were our family. They helped us make a great product and we wanted to make sure they were taken care of,” Bassett said. ​“That is why we are very happy to be a part of something that will be used to provide support both now as the Valley responds to the virus, and during the recovery phase while people get back on their feet.”

A second round of grant funding is now open and will include eligibility for organizations that are implementing online programming and services that support the well-being of Valley residents.

Applications for the second round of grants are due by 12 p.m. Monday, April 27. More information on eligibility criteria and instructions on how to apply can be found here.

“We are delighted to see such an immediate outpouring of support for this Fund. There is still however a long road ahead of us in terms of how the Valley is able to come through these challenging times in a way that is stronger and more unified than before, said Sharon Closius, president and chief executive officer of the Valley Community Foundation. ​“If you, your business, or the company for which you work is looking to make an impact, I invite you to visit our website www.valleyfoundation.org and support this collective effort.”

“All of us at the Chamber are deeply moved by the extraordinary acts of compassionate service demonstrated by each of the award recipients during this public health crisis,” said Bill Purcell, president of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce. ​“We offer our special thanks to the donors whose generosity has made these grants possible, and urge our member businesses and the community at large to support this fund at whatever level possible.”

To support the Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, visit www.valleyfoundation.org.

Gifts via credit card are strongly preferred over checks to reduce processing time. Checks can however be made out to Valley Community Response and Recovery Fund and mailed to 253‑A Elizabeth St., Derby, CT 06418.

The Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund was created in response to COVID-19 by the Valley Community Foundation, Valley United Way, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Valley Council for Health & Human Services. The fund will rapidly deploy resources to organizations who support those in the Valley region who are most significantly affected by the pandemic.

Information from a press release.