COVID-19 Community Response Fund
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin has teamed up with United Way of Marathon County to create the COVID-19 Community Response Fund. This fund will bring essential resources and aid to our neighbor’s in need. This fund will provide flexible funding for organizations working in our community who are disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus and the economic consequences of the outbreak. Working in partnership, this Fund is designed to expand local capacity to address the effects on individuals and families as a result of the outbreak as efficiently as possible.
We know there will be serious short and long-term impacts during this pandemic. We acknowledge that the resources of local nonprofit organizations may be stressed – as they provide support for those with immediate needs in this time.
We need to help our community weather this time of uncertainty. We can’t do it without your support.
Thank you to the generous donors who have supported the Fund. Click the button below to view the list of donors that have contributed to the fund to date.
Providing medical needs for clients
Aging & Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin
Addressing the social isolation of seniors served through the use of Chromebook technology.
American Red Cross North Central Chapter
Enhancing blood donation safety to fill the current needs of Marathon County.
Bethlehem Community Preschool and Child Care
Keeping the childcare center open for essential working families during the COVID-19 crisis.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northcentral Wisconsin
Connecting mentors with at-risk youth and their families through the distribution of make-at-home meals and family activities.
Blessings in a Backpack DC Everest–Wausau
Providing family-sized bags of food as a weekend supplement for vulnerable families experiencing food scarcity. The bags are distributed through the DCE, Mosinee and Wausau School Districts food distribution channels that are in place through the grab and go food distribution collaboration.
Boys & Girls Club of the Wausau Area
To provide take home, hot, nutritious dinners along with high yield activity packets, books, and craft activities to assist with out-of-school learning to anyone under the age of 18.
Bridge Street Mission
Will provide sack lunches to students living near the downtown Wausau area, who might not have transportation access to other food distribution sites.
Catholic Charities, Diocese of La Crosse
Support for the Wausau warming shelter facility, which now provides 24/7 services during the pandemic to keep that population isolated and safe during the pandemic.
Center for the Visual Arts
Providing a safe environment for students and teachers to return to summer art camps.
Childcaring, Inc.
Providing supplies to home care providers who remain open to serve families that need high-quality, safe, childcare during the health crisis.
Children’s Wisconsin
Will provide staff with the resources to help with food and basic needs for families they serve who live just above or below the poverty line.
Community Center of Hope
Will provide self-serve, pre-packed bags of food and essential hygiene products to residents in the Mosinee area.
D.C. Everest School District
Providing bags of food to adults who are coming to the food distribution sites set up to provide meals to families in the school district.
Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin
Development of virtual education opportunities for individuals with Down Syndrome and related disabilities in Marathon County
Edgar Child Care
Support so the center can reopen its doors to serve families that need child care services in the Edgar community.
Edgar Elementary School
Providing hygiene and cleaning products for families in need, as well as vouchers for bread, milk, butter, and eggs at the local IGA.
Faith in Action of Marathon County
To provide essential health-related transportation and food security trips for the most vulnerable populations affected by COVID-19.
Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes
Provide stability to girls and adults in the program through technology connections and curbside distribution of materials.
Good News Project
Providing personal protection masks for incoming individuals to allow access to areas service within the organization.
Habitat for Humanity of Wausau
Providing mortgage relief for Habitat homeowners whose income is impacted by COVID-19, making it difficult to meet their payments.
Hmong American Center
To educate the elderly Hmong and Southeast Asian community about COVID-19 and to provide food and essentials items to the homebound community members they serve.
Hope Life Center
Providing hygiene and necessary safety items to serve clients when the organization reopens its doors in June.
Innovative Services
Providing cleaning and sanitation supplies necessary for the organization to continue providing medication management, food delivery, personal hygiene, and other services that allow people to continue living independently in their homes.
Key to Life Christian Child Care
To provide operational funds for the center to remain open and provide high-quality care for children of parents in our community who are essential workers.
Little Lambs Day Care
Operational funds were provided for the center to remain open and provide care for children during the pandemic.
Marathon County Hunger Coalition
Purchase and distribution of food supplies for individuals and families impacted by the pandemic.
McDEVCO
COVID-19 grant program for small businesses preparing to safely open their doors for business
McLit: Marathon County Literacy Council
Providing educational materials and literacy supplies to people during the quarantine.
The Neighbors’ Place
Proving utility wagons to assist individuals and families that walk up for food assistance from the food pantry.
Newman Catholic Early Childhood Center at St. Michael
Provide for staffing and building needs to keep the childcare center open for essential working families during the COVID-19 crisis.
Newman Catholic Early Childhood Center at St. Therese
Provide for staffing and building needs to keep the childcare center open for essential working families during the COVID-19 crisis.
North Central Health Care
Groceries and school supplies bags are available for direct care staff, working in restricted areas, who might not have access to other community distribution programs.
North Central Community Action Program
Will provide for emergency rental and utility assistance to income-eligible households.
Peaceful Solutions
Assisted with training and other expenses to allow therapists to provide mental health and substance abuse therapy sessions via a video connection.
Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran Church
The Blessings that Give Hope Food Program will provide boxes of food to families in the John Marshall area to supplement their grocery needs at this time when they are not in school.
Positive Alternatives
Keeping teens focused and involved in positive activities during the pandemic.
The Salvation Army
Provide for emergency rental and utility assistance to income-eligible households.
St. Vincent de Paul Cabrini Conference
Provide basic care assistance, including rent and utility assistance, to those in need in the community.
Vivent Health
Providing critical needs to the clients they serve including food distribution, at-home HIV testing, and personal care needs.
Wausau Child Care
Support for food and supply costs necessary to reopen the centers for essential working families during the COVID-19 crisis.
Wausau Pilot & Review
Provided necessary updates to the website content delivery system, so they can continue providing vital local information to the community.
Wausau School District
Distribution of hygiene and household products, as well as clothing at the food distribution sites, for students and families who are in need.
Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service
Providing vital information to the Hmong and Hispanic population on services related to the COVID-19 pandemic
Wisconsin Judicare
To provide for technology needs that will allow homebound staff to continue providing legal assistance in processing applications for its clients.
The Women’s Community
A portable hydroponic garden will provide fresh produce to residents of the shelter as well as clients who visit the pantry for their food needs.
Woodson YMCA Childcare
Providing additional child care services at the Aspirus and downtown Wausau child care campuses for essential care workers in the community who still need to work.
FAQ
We know there will be serious short- and long-term impacts during this pandemic. We acknowledge that the resources of local nonprofit organizations may be stressed – as they provide support for those with immediate needs in this time – thus the reason the COVID-19 Community Response Fund was formed.
This Fund was not created to be the only way to get needed resources into the community, but to help channel resources that will have the highest impact into the community, and to help facilitate coordination among entities.
We encourage you to connect with and give directly to any local nonprofit to which you are drawn. This is a critical time for so many nonprofit organizations, as well as those who have had to cancel events or depend heavily on public gatherings. Please continue to give to the organizations you regularly support, and those that need your help at this crucial time.
We understand the COVID-19 outbreak is impacting nonprofits in many ways, including increased demand for their services, lost revenue due to closures and cancelations, as well as other challenges. We are working closely with partners and the nonprofit community to ensure that the grants awarded meet the greatest needs in communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. To help meet needs quickly, please contact Sue Nelson to discuss further. 715.845.9555 or apply here.
Due to the nation-wide COVID-19 protocols implemented at this time to try and slow down the spread of the virus, the Community Foundation staff is working remotely from home offices. Our staff will still be available by phone or email, please call us at 715.845.9555. We are implementing these procedures to protect our staff and those who we work with in the community.
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