READING, PA - During these difficult times, financial support is being made available for healthcare organizations in Berks County and beyond.
"The strains on our healthcare and human service providers are at a unique point because of the pandemic," explains Berks County Community Foundation President, Kevin Murphy, "They both had challenges in raising money from their sources and in the ways they usually raise money; no special events since March for instance. On the other hand, the demand for their services is more strained than it has ever been. When we think about for instance food delivery tripling in volume since the beginning of the pandemic."
The Berks County Community Foundation is making more than $140,000 available for local organizations that support general health and wellness or programs that help people recover from illnesses at home. Each organization stands to gain up to $40,000.
"The purpose of the fund is to promote the general health and wellness of residents in those counties," says Health and Human Services Program Officer at the BCCF, Monica Reyes, "It helps residents recover from illness or disability at home, any organizations that provide health related charity care can apply and it also supports preventative health care for residents in the overall community. So, if any non-profit organization meets those guidelines they are eligible to apply."
It’s the first time this funding is available for local organizations with help from the ‘Home Health Care Foundation Fund;' a grant created in 2019 to support charity care and other community wellness programs.
"There are new programs that organizations are trying to implement and address issues that are caused by COVID," Reyes explains, "So this is a great time to have this fund available to those organizations that can address COVID related issues."
Organizations in Berks, Chester, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery and Schuylkill counties have until September 7th to apply.