Elgin COVID Response Fund to grant second round of funding

A COVID-19 response fund created to help Elgin nonprofit groups will launch a second round of grant funding and has expanded the services it's looking to support.

The Elgin Covid Response Fund was created in May through a partnership that included the Grand Victoria Foundation, United Way of Metro Chicago, the Seigle Family Foundation, the Wisdom Family Foundation, the Hoffer Family Foundation, the Kaptain Family Trust and the city of Elgin.

It was initially seeded with $150,000, including a $50,000 contribution by the city and individual donations, according to city spokesperson Molly Gillespie. In mid-July, the Elgin Covid Response Fund Steering Committee announced the first round of COVID-19 grants totaling $89,250. The remaining more than $60,000 is available during this second round of funding.

Grants, ranging from $500 to $7,500, would be given to organizations helping support Elgin residents during the pandemic. Specifications for the second round have expanded to add community needs, including child care, transportation and education. This is in addition to the original specifications that allowed for funding to families and individuals for food and grocery support, housing and rental assistance, utilities, PPE such as masks and gloves and medical costs related to COVID-19.

Groups that received first-round grants included the Association for Individual Development, the Boys and Girls Club, ChildServ, Chinese Mutual Aid Association, Community Crisis Center, Inc., Elgin Cooperative Ministry, Elgin Partnership for Early Learning, Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project, Food for Greater Elgin, Senior Services Associates, Inc., Society of St. Vincent DePaul Conference of St. Thomas More/St. Laurence, St. Mary's Conference of St. Vincent DePaul, VNA Health Care, Well Child Center and YWCA Elgin. They are eligible to apply for the second round.

The deadline to apply is Sept. 11 and notifications of grant distribution will be sent the week of Oct. 5. Eligible nonprofit organizations can apply at https://www.cffrv.org/elgin-covid-reponse-fund/elgin-how-to-apply/