The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga launched a $650,000 Community Response and Resilience Fund to benefit coronavirus relief on Tuesday.
According to a release, the foundation and partners, including the McKenzie Foundation, the Maclellan Foundation, Benwood Foundation, the Weldon F. Osborne Foundation, and Truist, have raised the funds to promote financial relief for those impacted locally by the COVID-19 outbreak, which has already infected at least 15 people in Hamilton County.
“During times of crisis and uncertainty, acts of generosity give us purpose and inspire hope. I have been deeply moved by outpourings of kindness and the resolve of so many individuals who have stepped up across our community,” Maeghan Jones, president of the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, said in the release. “Because of their commitments, this fund will meet the urgency of the moment by deploying much-needed support to organizations providing critical support to our neighbors most impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak in our area.”
The fund has already approved its first round of grants, with more than $220,000 committed to these local organizations, according to the release, to aid in their respective relief efforts:
– The Chattanooga Area Food Bank operates several programs to provide access to healthy food and end hunger in our community. The organization anticipates a 30% or more increase in food needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has already seen an increase in demand for its services. The fund approved a grant to increase the number of virtual vouchers for food boxes available for individuals and families in need.