As we adapt to the changes the COVID-19 pandemic has presented in our community, Meals on Wheels of Hancock County is being lifted up by support from the Central Indiana COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund.
Meals on Wheels of Hancock County is honored to be one of 46 Central Indiana community organizations benefiting from the first-round of C-CERF donations totaling more than $7 million statewide. The funds are helping stabilize community organizations such as ours as we change delivery protocols and add more vulnerable clients, such as seniors and those with compromised immunities who are following stay-at-home orders and staying healthy through social distancing measures.
We are utilizing the funds to help continue our safe weekday home deliveries of nutritious meals in accordance with prescribed dietary needs, and provide a point of contact in the community through follow-up phone calls once meals have been safely placed in coolers on clients’ porches. If you or a loved one or neighbor are interested in receiving meals, click here to get meals or call (317) 477-4345. You may also support our nonprofit organization by volunteering and donating online.
According to the United Way of Central Indiana, the economic relief fund was launched at the end of March with initial investments from founding partners Lilly Endowment Inc., Central Indiana Community Foundation (through the Glick Fund and The Indianapolis Foundation), Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, and United Way of Central Indiana. The Fund is helping us, and our fellow Hoosiers, in weathering the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic in the days and weeks to come.
“Our coalition of funders has been in daily communication with community leaders across Central Indiana to assess emerging needs and direct service providers to better understand their most pressing challenges,” said Ann Murtlow, president & CEO, United Way of Central Indiana, which is administering the fund. “With this information, the founding funders of C-CERF were able to make decisions on grants to organizations that serve in critical service areas that provide flexibility to problem solve in a rapidly changing environment.”
On April 7, the Task Force of the Central Indiana COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund announced a second wave of grants to 32 human service organizations in the six-county region. As of today, more than $22.2 million has been donated to the Fund, and 100% of all donations to C-CERF’s website go directly to organizations serving those in need due to the pandemic.
“At this moment, our community is feeling the impact of layoffs and other job losses, increased childcare needs due to school closures, and significant food shortages for our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Ronni Kloth, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for community development. “We hope this funding can help these organizations begin to address these and other critical needs.”
As Meals on Wheels of Hancock County and United Way of Central Indiana are #INthistogether, we proudly stand with Gov. Eric Holcomb, and a distinguished roster of corporate partners, nonprofit organizations and individuals, for the recently announced #INthistogether statewide campaign to focus on the importance of social distancing. To participate, go to INthistogetherCampaign.com and click the contact under Get IN Touch to join the coalition of community partners.
According to the campaign, social distancing is the most important, effective tool we have to defeat COVID-19 — and a growing coalition of Indiana-based partners is committed to equipping everyone in our state with the knowledge and the resources to stay connected and motivated.
Looking for a social post starter? How about this:
We are #INthistogether! We may be social distancing, but we can stay connected and well. Take a walk outside. Call your family. Let me know how you’re in #INthistogether and invite others to join the campaign to flatten the COVID-19 curve. www.inthistogethercampaign.com
To learn more or to donate to the C-CERF, text HELP2020 to 91999 or visit www.covid19cerf.org.
