Emergency Funds to Nonprofits

The Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation (BTCF), which is partnering with Columbia Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) to provide grants to local businesses, has also created a fund to provide grants to not-for-profits that serve those disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Today, BTCF announced nine new grants totaling nearly $90,000 from the Columbia County COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. The recipients of the grants are:

Abode Farm: $5,500 to increase the number of subsidized Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares for low-income children, families and seniors in New Lebanon, in partnership with schools and nonprofits.

COARC, the Columbia County Chapter of the Arc New York: $15,000 for food and nutritional supplements for the 400 individuals with disabilities and their families the organization serves countywide.

Columbia Children's Center: $10,000 for operating support to provide care and three meals a day for the children of essential workers.

Columbia-Greene Community Foundation at Columbia-Greene Community College: $15,000 to provide financial support for students for costs such as tuition, housing, child care and food.

Friends of Hudson Youth: $12,000 for twice-weekly grocery deliveries to vulnerable families at four public housing sites in Hudson.

Kite's Nest: $13,800 to keep Hudson's only community garden safely open to serve fresh and healthy food to an estimated 200-plus low-income immigrants.

National Alliance on Mental Illness of Columbia County: $5,000 for videoconferencing fees and technical support for its website to promote services for individuals and families.

ReEntry Columbia: $6,946 to provide food and hygiene products, rental assistance and clothing to parolees, newly released or otherwise justice-involved residents who lack support systems.

Rolling Grocer 19: $5,000 to increase its outreach and food distribution to vulnerable populations, including children and youth from low-income households and seniors.

Since the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund was initiated at the end of March, more than sixty individual donors, corporations, and foundations have contributed more than $335,000 to the fund. Donations can be made at BerkshireTaconic.org/ColumbiaCOVID-19. One hundred percent of the gifts goes directly to nonprofits.