Kane County directs financial support to nonprofits
Numerous charitable organizations in Kane County will receive assistance to offset financial losses associated with the pandemic.
On March 22, the Kane County Board unanimously approved $2 million in community support grants for 40 organizations including behavioral and/or mental health agencies, homeless shelters and food pantries. The selected service providers will receive amounts ranging from $4,000 to $200,000.
Funding for the grants comes from the American Rescue Plan Act which was enacted by Congress to deliver financial support to local economies. The recipients can use the money to reimburse eligible expenses incurred between March of 2021 and March of 2024.
Last month, board members approved American Rescue Plan grants of $333,333 each, for six local nonprofit agencies to immediately address the demand for services and staffing shortages caused by the pandemic
"We are building on the investments we made in our nonprofit community earlier this year with another direct distribution of pandemic relief funding," said Kane County Board Chairwoman Corinne Pierog. "It's our hope the grant awards will begin to ease the financial strain so many of our safety net providers have experienced through no fault of their own."
Examples of grant recipients and their missions are as follows:
• National Alliance on Mental Illness-Kane-south, DeKalb and Kendall Countries ($68,650). The mission is to provide support, education and advocacy for persons, family members and communities dealing with mental health issues.
• FISH Food Pantry ($17,273). Its mission is to provide a five to 10-day supply of food to families in need in the communities of Carpentersville, East and West Dundee, Sleepy Hollow, and Gilberts.
• Changing Children's Worlds Foundation ($30,386). The mission is for every child and adolescent to be supported in positive development by caregivers and professionals within loving, nonviolent families and peaceful communities.
• Community Crisis Center ($108,781). The mission is to provide safety, hope, advocacy, respite and education for those impacted by crisis and violence in the Fox Valley region.
• Elderday Center ($41,784). Its mission is to provide a comprehensive adult day program of socialization, recreation and health maintenance that reinforces each participant's self-worth and dignity while enhancing current skills and abilities.
A list of the ARPA grant recipients can be found online at www.countyofkane.org.