CHARLOTTE — More than $3 million has been awarded to 51 local nonprofits in the second round of grants from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg COVID-19 Response Fund, including $40,000 to Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte.
To date, more than $6 million has been granted to nonprofits meeting basic needs for those affected by the pandemic, such as education, housing, food, employment, financial assistance, health and mental health.
Catholic Charities received $40,000 to provide rental assistance for 50 vulnerable households.
“Although there are some temporary provisions in place to prevent evictions during this pandemic, the reality is that eventually rents will need to be paid. Those impacted by job loss or a reduction in wages due to COVID-19 will still be in a bind once evictions are enforced,” said Dr. Gerard Carter, Catholic Charities’ executive director. “Catholic Charities is proud to partner with so many other community agencies by providing relief to those struggling to maintain their homes until things begin to normalize.”
Since the Charlotte-Mecklenburg COVID-19 Response Fund was launched March 16, over $16 million has been raised from corporations, foundations, individuals and local government.
“These grants will assist a wide variety of nonprofit organizations across the county to meet escalating needs in the face of this unprecedented crisis,” said United Way of Central Carolinas President and CEO Laura Yates Clark.
“To date, we’ve made 65 grants to nonprofits from this fund, and it’s just the beginning,” said Foundation For The Carolinas President and CEO Michael Marsicano. “We do not know what our demands will be in a week or a month. This is why we continue to fund-raise for the COVID-19 Response Fund – to help our friends and neighbors in need.”
The next cycle of funding will open April 20 at 10 a.m. and close May 1 at noon.
Visit www.uwcentralcarolinas.org/grants/COVID for eligibility requirements and to apply.
The COVID-19 Response Fund is administered through a partnership between Foundation For The Carolinas and United Way of Central Carolinas, in close coordination with the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
— Catholic News Herald