Community Matters

Special Edition 

Ways We are Helping - Ways You Can Help

May 4, 2020  

Resources for Northern Nevada During COVID-19 Pandemic

In an effort to share knowledge, the Community Foundation staff have compiled a regularly updated list of resources for you. Featuring food programs, family programs, and programs addressing basic needs, news, and information. We are inspired by the notes and calls from people asking if we can connect them with ways they can help. We've been asked about ways to volunteer such as making masks or calling isolated seniors, and asked who is helping different populations? We also answer website comments and emails from people in dire straits, confused, and feeling desperate. Nonprofits are hurting even while they are serving and helping those who need it most. Please share the list link with anyone who can use it. Community Foundation Resource List

Collecting Community Needs

Calling nonprofits and community groups!

We have received many responses from nonprofits and community groups and want to hear from you! We are still collecting information about community needs and resources (like groups with volunteers ready to help), particularly as it relates to COVID-19. Your responses may be shared in future communications. Complete Survey Here

COVID-19 Relief Fund Initial Grants Help Most Vulnerable

This week, four area nonprofits serving the most vulnerable people during the COVID-19 crisis received the first round of grants from the Community Foundation of Western Nevada’s COVID-19 Relief Fund. Northern Nevada HOPES will use their $10,000 grant to purchase Personal Protective Equipment for the 15 staff seeing patients in the parking lot pop up clinic that increases total clinical space to accommodate social distancing. Community Health Alliance (CHA) will use their $10,000 grant to pay for screening tents outside of their North Valleys, Sparks, Wells Ave, and Neil Road health centers, hand washing stations, and increased cleaning costs. The Food Bank of Northern Nevada received a $30,000 grant to use as a matching gift challenge during #GivingTuesdayNow. The Food Bank of Northern Nevada has seen a 40% increase in people needing services. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) was given a $200 grant to buy a yearly subscription to Zoom to host mental health support groups virtually. In addition, $10,000 worth of gift cards were given to area hospitals and healthcare organizations to disperse to employees working on the front lines through the COVID Kindness programs in partnership with Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce, and $5,000 of healthy frozen meals were purchased for REMSA responders. __________ From Chris Fegert at Northern Nevada HOPES:

“Wow, thank you so much. We are so so appreciative of this…and so quickly. You and the Community Foundation are absolutely amazing how you pivoted with this COVID Relief Fund. I also think it’s amazing how we all want to help others in such need and for many it’s hard to know how."

From personal online contributions to institutional donations from northern Nevada businesses, Nevadans are stepping up to give generously and help each other now, when we really need it. Your gifts, your positive thoughts, and kind actions show the true Nevada spirit the Community Foundation is proud to put into action.

Thank you to these businesses for their contribution to the health and recovery of our community.