Grant Funding 

To deploy resources rapidly, we will not be accepting requests for funding or posting a grant application. We will instead work together with community advisors and funders to identify organizations currently providing supports to Central Kentucky residents that are aligned with the priorities of the Response Fund in order to expand available resources and relief.  Priorities in the first phase of funding will include:  food, childcare, transportation and healthcare or prescription assistance. 

For questions regarding the Coronavirus Response Fund, and how grant funds will be deployed, please contact:

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Jonathan Kohn              
United Way of the Bluegrass       
Director of Community Impact        
jonathan.kohn@uwbg.org

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Barbara Fischer                
Blue Grass Community Foundation        
Director of Nonprofit Services        
bfischer@bgcf.org

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The Coronavirus Response Fund awards flexible, rapid response grants to local and regional nonprofits to support individuals and families across the joint UWBG and BGCF joint service region. Community advisors and funders help identify organizations currently providing supports to Central Kentucky residents that are aligned with the priorities of the Fund in order to expand available resources and relief. Priorities in the first phase of funding include:  food, childcare, transportation, healthcare or prescription assistance, and rent and utility assistance. Each week, the advisory committee meets virtually to determine available funds and issue new grant awards. As of June 15, 2020 grants awarded from the Fund total over $625,000.

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Currently, the below organizations have received funding through the Coronavirus Response Fund:

Week 1:

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• God’s Pantry Food Bank - $40,000: Funds will support food access and availability for all Fayette County clients, and for Senior Citizens in surrounding counties. The Food Bank will be supplying supplemental nutrition to clients in need by providing boxes that contain enough food for five days (for a family of 3). In counties where pantries are still open, but distribution centers for seniors are closed, delivery service will focus on seniors.

• The Urban League of Lexington - $10,000: The Urban League operates senior housing facilities for low-income and budget-constrained seniors. In all, the Urban League is responsible for 120 occupied units in Fayette County. Funding will support individual needs assessments for each unit and supply seniors with food, medical needs, household supplies, and other items that are necessary as they shelter in place.

• Community Action Council - $20,000:  Funding will help provide non-food essentials to anyone in-need, including diapers, baby formula, feminine hygiene products, medical and cleaning supplies, and more.  Supplies will be provided to community members and homeless individuals in-need across Fayette, Bourbon, Harrison, Madison, Nicholas and Scott counties.

• Harrison Memorial Hospital - $7,500: Harrison County is the epicenter of the Coronavirus Pandemic in Kentucky. Harrison Memorial is a 501c(3) community health organization. Funding will help expand testing for possible COVID-19 infection, as well as providing general medical assistance to those in-need, including access to prescription medication and medical supplies for low-income and vulnerable populations in Cynthiana and neighboring counties.

• RadioLEX - $5,000: Funding will help RadioLEX increase awareness and outreach regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. RadioLEX will serve as a general source of information for all listeners but will also focus outreach to Hispanic communities and other English Language Learners (ELLs) across its listening area.

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Week 2:

• Childcare Council - $13,000: Funding will support childcare agencies who have opened their doors to accommodate the children of first responders and medical personnel.  The Council will provide round-the-clock administrative and logistical support to those childcare centers, including offering free training and support to childcare workers and staff across the region while the situation persists.

• Mission Lexington - $10,000: Will use funds to provide prescription medications to low-income and budget-constrained individuals. Faith Pharmacy is providing these services to seniors, but can also serve other vulnerable populations as a result of added funding.

• ITN Bluegrass - $10,000: Will provide ride and delivery services to vulnerable populations, particularly seniors.  Rides and delivery are now mainly focused on delivery of groceries and sundries, and rides to or delivery of medical equipment, supplies, and prescriptions.

• Bluegrass Families First - $5,000: Will provide diapers, formula, wipes and household supplies to low-income families and single mothers.   

• FoodChain - $15,000:  Funding will supply 1,000 meals per day to Fayette County children during spring break, when few meal options remain available to them.  Food Chain has brought together a host of partner agencies and businesses in order to accomplish this task, and will be able to distribute food to kids from low-income families at targeted sites across the city for the duration of spring break.

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Week 3 

• God’s Pantry - $15,000: Continuing to be on the front lines of food distribution in Central Kentucky, God’s Pantry is increasing its capacity in order to serve those who are most affected by the pandemic.  Funding will go toward the purchase of additional product that will help the agency meet increasing and historic demands. 

• FoodChain - $10,000: Continuing to provide prepared meals for children, seniors and other vulnerable populations across Lexington, FoodChain will use this funding to fill gaps in food delivery plans for FCPS students. FoodChain has brought together a host of partner agencies and businesses in order to accomplish this task, and will be able to distribute 500 meals, 4 days per week to low-income families at targeted sites across the city.

• Amen House - $10,000: Serves any resident of Scott County in need by providing food, clothing, and other basic necessities.  These funds will help the agency meet increasing need in Scott County. 

• Frankfort Emergency Food Pantry - $10,000: Providing emergency food for Franklin County residents, the pantry has seen drastically increased demand as a result of the pandemic.  These funds will help the pantry meet the current demand and prepare for the continuing escalation of need. 

• Greenhouse17 - $10,000: An unintended consequence of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been an increase in the incidents of domestic violence. Greenhouse17 is on the front lines of that fight.  Funds will help the agency to respond to the increase in demand for its services.  They will also need to make modifications in the way services are delivered, additional funding will help to make those needed adjustments. 

• Packin’ the Pantry - $7,000: A food bank serving Fayette and Jessamine Counties, the pantry has seen dramatically increased demand for food because of displaced workers.  Funding will help to meet that demand and prepare for any additional increases in demand in the future. 

• Red Cross Wheels - $10,000: Providing critical transportation services for our region’s most vulnerable residents.  Wheels continues to get seniors and other vulnerable populations where they need to go in emergency situations.  Funding will go toward the continuation of the service for high-need clients. 

• Kentucky Refugee Ministries - $5,000: Providing critical response-related information to English Language Learner (ELL) residents across Central Kentucky, the agency is a source of information for those who would otherwise be left in the dark. KRM continues to educate refugee and immigrant families about COVID-19 and is providing resources and updates in 18 languages. 

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Week 4:

• God’s Pantry - $15,000: Continuing to be on the front lines of food distribution in Central Kentucky, God’s Pantry is increasing its capacity in order to serve those who are most affected by the pandemic.  Funding will go toward the purchase of additional product that will help the agency meet increasing demands. 

• FoodChain - $15,000: Continuing to provide prepared meals for children, seniors and other vulnerable populations across Lexington, FoodChain will use this funding to fill gaps in food delivery plans for FCPS students and local children. FoodChain has convened a host of partner agencies and businesses in order to accomplish this task, and will be able to distribute 500 meal to low-income families at targeted sites across the city.

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Week 5:

• Community Action Council - $30,000:  Funding will support residents in Fayette, Bourbon, Harrison, and Nicholas counties who are in need of housing and utility assistance.  Community Action will leverage funds against other grant funding to help residents who are unemployed, low-income, or otherwise in need, to help meet housing and utility payment obligations. 

• Red Cross Wheels - $15,000: Funding will provide critical transportation services for our region’s most vulnerable residents.  Wheels continues to transport seniors and other vulnerable populations where they need to go in emergency situations.  Funding will go towards the continuation of the service for high-need clients.  Wheels is also instrumental in assisting food service nonprofits to transport and distribute meals to food insecure residents, including students. 

• God’s Pantry - $10,000: On the front lines of food distribution in Central Kentucky, God’s Pantry is increasing capacity in order to serve those who are most affected by the pandemic.  Funding will support the purchase of additional food and product to help the agency meet increasing demands.  

• The Urban League of Lexington - $10,000: Funding will help the organization assist low-income seniors, especially through rent and utility assistance. 

• FoodChain - $10,000: Funding will help provide 500 prepared meals for low-income children, students, and families at targeted sites across Lexington, 4 days per week. FoodChain has convened a coalition of partners and businesses in order to increase capacity, focusing on vulnerable populations and school-aged children. 

• Lee Initiative - $6,000: Funding will help provide much needed relief to displaced food and restaurant workers. The funds will support a program that puts displaced employees to work preparing meals for those in need, including meals for local healthcare workers. 

• Lexington Leadership Foundation - $5,000: Funding will help support East End residents in need be increasing access to hot meals and other household necessities. 

• Mission Lexington - $5,000: Funds will provide prescription assistance to low-income and budget-constrained individuals. Faith Pharmacy is providing these services to seniors but will also serve other vulnerable individuals in need of assistance. 

• Frankfort Emergency Food Pantry - $3,000: Providing emergency food for Franklin County residents, the pantry has seen drastically increased demand as a result of the pandemic.  These funds will help the pantry meet the current demand and prepare for the continuing escalation of needs. 

• Amen House - $2,500:  Funding will allow Amen House to meet increasing needs, and to continue serving Scott Countians in-need by providing food, clothing, and other basic needs.   

• Packin’ the Pantry - $2,500: A food bank serving Fayette and Jessamine Counties, the pantry has seen dramatically increased demand for food because of displaced workers. Funding will help meet increasing demands for assistance and preparations for ongoing and future needs.  

• The Share Center - $2,500: Funding will help West End residents in need to have access to food and essential goods at a centralized location inside their neighborhood. 

• Gateway Helping Hands - $2,500: Funding will help secure food for distribution to Rowan County residents who are in need of assistance. 

• Sterling Food Coalition - $2,500: Funding will help provide food access, and support increasing needs among residents of Montgomery County. 

• The Nest - $5,000: Funding will help provide emergency products, including food, household goods, and other essentials, to Lexington residents who are in need of support.  

• God’s Outreach - $4,000: Funding will help provide much needed food and nutrition assistance to Madison County residents who are in need of support. 

• Open Hands - $2,500: Funding will help provide essential food and nutrition products to residents in need across Anderson Countians. 

• River of Life Food Pantry - $2,500: Funding will help the pantry supply food and nutrition assistance to those in need across Bourbon County. 

• Clark County Community Services - $2,500: Funding will help provide food to residents of Clark County who are experiencing food insecurity - especially people who are experiencing hardships as a result of the Pandemic. 

• Food Pantry for Woodford County - $2,500: Funding will help provide food to Woodford County residents in-need of assistance. 

• First Baptist Winchester - $2,500: Funding will go toward bolstering First Baptist’s ability to serve Clark County residents in need of food and nutrition support. 

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Week 6:

• YMCA of Central Kentucky - $10,000:  Funding will help support supply costs associated with childcare services currently provided to healthcare and emergency personnel. Dollars will support the cost of snacks for children, as well as thermometers and sanitation supplies needed to protect children and childcare workers. 

• Step by Step - $10,000:  Funding will support ongoing outreach efforts to young, single mothers (ages 12-24) during the pandemic, including bi-weekly delivery of basic needs items, household supplies and activity packs for children. The organization is also providing some direct financial assistance for mothers to support rent, utilities, cell phone and internet bill payments.

• Jubilee Jobs - $10,000:  Funding will help cover the expense of preparing and packaging 400 meals per day (M-F) for a three-week period. Meals will be delivered to shelters in the Lexington area that house individuals who are homeless, women fleeing domestic violence, human trafficking victims, and those in recovery programs.  The organization formed a partnership with Selma’s Catering and Events and the Fayette County’s Sheriff Department through their “JUST Feed Lexington” program to make this effort possible. 

• Lexington Rescue Mission - $10,000:  Funding will help support efforts to serve a rising number of homeless and low income individuals with basic needs including prepared meals, food bags, cleaning and hygiene supplies, daytime shelter, referrals to transitional housing, sleeping bags, blankets, clothing, transportation and optional case management. 

• Lighthouse Ministries - $10,000:  Funding will support the organization’s Dining with Dignity effort which continues to provide two meals per day to low income and homeless individuals. The organization also distributes hygiene and personal care items to clients in need. 

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Week 7:

• Bluegrass Council of the Blind - $2,500:   Bluegrass Council of the Blind provides resources and services to all people affected by a loss of sight, improving lives for all by empowering persons with a loss of vision to continue living independently as productive, contributing members of their community and to educate the public on the rights, abilities and needs of the blind and visually impaired. Funding will be used to continue supplemental food distribution to persons who are blind or have low vision.

• Glean Kentucky - $12,500:   Funding will support gleaning and distribution of produce and prepared meals to those with food insecurity through local collaborations and efforts. As a critical link between food waste and food insecurity, Glean Kentucky will utilize funding to continue operations during this difficult time when food insecurity remains a critical issue in Central Kentucky.

• Simon House - $5000:  Funding will support the emergency shelter located at Frankfort High School, set up to temporarily house women and men during the COVID-10 pandemic, and will help provide additional resources and aid to its clients. 

• Blue Grass Farms Charities - $5,000:  A health and human services agency working to provide resources to Central Kentucky’s thoroughbred industry workers in Fayette, Bourbon, Clark Jessamine, Scott and Woodford counties. Funding will help provide essential items to clients including hygiene and baby products along with groceries provided to clients and their families. 

• Visiting Angel Ministries - $2,500:  Visiting Angel Ministries, an all-volunteer nonprofit, serves chronically homeless individuals from teenagers to the elderly who are not utilizing mainstream services. Funds will help Visiting Angels continue its mobile outreach to provide meals, clothing, blankets, tents, sanitary items, propane heathers and other items necessary for survival. 

• Mentors & Meals - $2,600: Mentors & Meals (M&Ms), which provides tutoring and meals to academically and financially at-risk Woodford County middle school students and their families, was awarded funding to continue its dinner box program from May through August. In addition to providing hot meals twice a week while school is not in session, each Thursday, M&Ms also delivers a bag of groceries and a recipe to prepare another meal at home.  

• Red Cross Wheels - $15,000: Funding will provide critical transportation services for our region’s most vulnerable residents.  Wheels continues to transport seniors and other vulnerable populations where they need to go in emergency situations.  Funding will go towards the continuation of the service for high-need clients.  Wheels is also instrumental in assisting food service nonprofits to transport and distribute meals to food insecure residents, including students. 

• RadioLEX - $5,000: Funding will help RadioLEX increase awareness and outreach regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. RadioLEX will serve as a general source of information for all listeners but will also focus outreach to Hispanic communities and other English Language Learners (ELLs) across its listening area.

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Week 8:

• Community Response Coalition (CRCKY) - $10,000: Funding will provide emergency financial support to immigrant clients and families who may not qualify for government assistance or other relief based on documented status, or the documented status of a spouse. Families will receive rent and utility assistance, as well as referrals to food, medical and mental health resources.   

• Kentucky Refugee Ministries - $7,500:   Funding will support vulnerable refugee and immigrant families with case management, rent and utility assistance, and emergency food and home supplies.

• Common Good - $5,000:  Funding will support youth and families with weekly food and basic needs including groceries, hygiene products and household supplies. Services support families in three under-resourced neighborhoods:  North Limestone, Castlewood, and East End. 75% of families served through the program are Latino immigrants and African refugees. 

• Amen House - $5,000: Funds will help provide food, clothing, and other necessities to residents in Scott County.  

• Mission Lexington - $5,000: Funds will provide prescription assistance to low-income and budget-constrained individuals. Faith Pharmacy is providing these services to senior citizens and other vulnerable individuals in-need of assistance.

• Jubilee Jobs - $5,000:  Funding will help cover the expense of preparing and packaging 400 meals per day (M-F) for a two-week period. Meals will be delivered to shelters in the Lexington area that house individuals who are homeless, women fleeing domestic violence, human trafficking victims, and those in recovery programs.  

• Lexington Rescue Mission - $5,000:  Funding will help support efforts to serve a rising number of homeless and low income individuals with basic needs including prepared meals, food bags, cleaning and hygiene supplies, daytime shelter, referrals to transitional housing, sleeping bags, blankets, clothing, transportation and optional case management. 

• RadioLex - $3,500:  Funding will allow RadioLex to continue hosting and broadcasting valuable resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic in multiple languages. RadioLex is also collaborating with other organizations to produce, print and distribute critical information to non-English speaking members of the community, as well as business owners who need information related to reopening plans and safety guidelines.

• Gateway Helping Hands - $2,500: Funding will help secure food for distribution to Rowan County residents who are in need of assistance. 

• Sterling Food Coalition - $2,500: Funding will help provide food access, and support increasing needs among residents of Montgomery County. 

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Week 9:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass - $21,000:  BBBS will offer support to the families of children with whom they ordinarily work in the areas of basic needs, food security, and rent/utility assistance.  BBBS will use funding from the CRF to support these families and ensure that the children that they would normally pair with a mentor are able to persevere during this difficult time.  Families in Fayette, Montgomery, Madison, and Jessamine counties will receive additional support from BBBS because of funding from the CRF.

• God’s Outreach, Madison - $15,000: Funding will help provide much needed food and nutrition assistance to Madison County residents who are in need of support. 

• LexCare - $5,000:  Funding will support comprehensive services for select families in need in Lexington. These families are professionally assessed for need, and connected with services that will provide for the greatest impact.  During this difficult time, many families that work with LexCare are struggling with rent and payment of utility bills.  Funding from the CRF will assist LexCare by allowing them to provide assistance for some of Lexington’s most vulnerable families.

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Week 10: 

• Paris-Bourbon County YMCA - $10,000:  Funding will support the expansion of the childcare center to allow emergency and essential workers to maintain care in addition to accepting previously enrolled families in June. Grant dollars will support the purchase of expansion materials including PPE, thermometers, materials for early learning and school-age learning and exploration, increased staff and training, and assistance to help expand current building layout to serve a higher number of children.

• Jubilee Jobs - $5,000:  Funding will help cover the expense of preparing and packaging 400+ meals per day (M-F) through the end of May. Meals will be delivered to shelters in the Lexington area that house individuals who are homeless, women fleeing domestic violence, human trafficking victims, and those in recovery programs.  

• One Parent Scholar House - $5,000:  Funding will support the purchase supplies to maintain regular cleanings in facilities, meet basic needs for housed families, and provide classroom supplies for teachers and students in the Child Development Center.

• First Baptist Winchester - $2,500: Funding will go toward bolstering First Baptist’s ability to serve a growing number of Clark County residents in need with food and nutrition support one additional day per week for two months.

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Week 11:

• FoodChain - $10,000: Funding will help provide prepared meals for low-income children, students, and families at targeted sites across Lexington to bridge the gap between the end of the school year and the beginning of the summer feeding program through Fayette County Public Schools. 

• Nourish Lex - $10,000:  Funding will help provide prepared meals for low-income children, students, and families at targeted sites across Lexington to bridge the gap between the end of the school year and the beginning of the summer feeding program through Fayette County Public Schools. 

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PHASE 2

Phase 2 of grant funding will focus on food and other basic needs.

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Grants totaling $213,000 were awarded to the following organizations and programs providing food and nutrition support to residents in UWBG’s and BGCF’s joint service area:

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• Open Hands (Lawrenceburg) received a $5,000 grant.

• River of Life (Paris) received a $5,000 grant.

• First Baptist Winchester received a $5,000 grant.

• Clark County Community Services received a $5,000 grant.

• God’s Pantry (Fayette County) received a $25,000 grant.

• GleanKY (Fayette County) received a $15,000 grant.

• NourishLEX (Fayette County) received a $100,000 grant.

• Frankfort Emergency Food Pantry received a $5,000 grant.

• Living Hope (Harrison County) received a $3,000 grant.

• Packin’ the Pantry (Jessamine County) received a $5,000 grant.

• God’s Outreach (Madison County) received a $10,000 grant.

• Sterling Food Coalition (Montgomery County) received a $5,000 grant.

• Gateway Helping Hands (Rowan County) received a $5,000 grant.

• Amen House (Scott County) received a $10,000 grant.

• Mentors and Meals (Woodford County) received a $5,000 grant.

• Food Pantry for Woodford County received a $5,000 grant.

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Grants totaling $142,500 were awarded to the following organizations providing non-food related services:

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• Urban League (Fayette County) received a $20,000 grant to provide NTI support for students

• Chrysalis House (Fayette County) received a $7,000 grant to provide NTI support for students

• Paris/Bourbon YMCA received a $25,000 grant to provide NTI support for students

• The Nest (Fayette) received a $10,000 grant to provide child care, basic needs, legal assistance and parenting classes

• Community Action Council (Multiple counties) received a $30,000 grant to provide housing stabilization assistance

• Common Good (Fayette) received a $18,000 grant to provide rent, utility and grocery assistance

• Big Brothers/ Big Sisters (multiple counties) received a $10,000 grant to provide rent, utility and grocery assistance

• Community Response Coalition (Fayette County) received a $10,500 grant to provide immigrant household COVID relief

• Mentors & Meals (Woodford County) received a $7,000 grant to provide tutoring, mentoring and mental health support

• Mentors & Meals Winchester (Clark County) received a $5,000 grant to provide NTI support

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PHASE 3

• Lexington Public Library Foundation received a $13,000 grant for the NTI Learning Lab at Village Branch Library offered in partnership with the YMCA of Central Kentucky

• Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning received a $23,710 grant for the NTI Learning Lab offered in partnership with the YMCA of Central Kentucky

• A Caring Place received a $5,000 grant for home delivery meal programming for low-income seniors

• The Nourish Fund received a $15,000 grant for support of a city-wide coalition of feeding organizations, shifting to a delivery mode for vulnerable populations so they don’t need to pick up their meals

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PHASE 4

• The Nourish Fund received a $5,000 grant.