Since the start of the pandemic in March, the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County’s (CFAAC) Community Crisis Response Fund has rapidly funded more than 100 grants totaling $219,000 to county nonprofits. In its fourth and most recent grant cycle, the fund awarded $32,000 to 15 Anne Arundel County nonprofits serving the county’s most vulnerable and at-risk populations, including seniors, children, low-income or food-insecure families, and the recently unemployed.

As in previous cycles, the most recent grants provided funding for organizations to purchase and distribute food and essential items to maintain safe and healthy environments. Funding was also awarded to organizations providing scholarships for low-income children to attend summer camp in order for a parent to return to work, and assistance for individuals facing homelessness as a result of COVID-19. The fourth cycle grantees are:

• Agape Deliverance Ministries- Project Farm 2 Families Mobile Food Pantry: Grant awarded to purchase and distribute food to low-income county residents in Glen Burnie, North County, and Old Mill.
• Annapolis Evangelical Presbyterian Church- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute culturally appropriate foods to Anne Arundel County Hispanic residents at the Mills-Parole Pop Up Pantry.
• Annapolis Maritime Museum- Grant awarded to provide funding or scholarships for low-income children to attend the Annapolis Maritime Museum’s Summer Camp in order for parents to return to work.
• Be Rose International Foundation, Inc.- Project Stay at Home, Save Lives: Grant awarded to purchase and distribute food and essential items to maintain safe and healthy environments to low-income communities in Annapolis, Millersville, and Edgewater.
• Chabad of Anne Arundel, Inc.- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute food and essential items to maintain safe and healthy environments, including cleaning and hygiene supplies to Anne Arundel County residents.
• Downtown Hope- Project COVID-19 Love Annapolis: Grant awarded to purchase and distribute essentials such as food, formula, diapers, medicine, transportation assistance, and items to maintain safe and healthy environments to Anne Arundel County residents.
• Harvest Resources in Anne Arundel Co.- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute fresh produce to Anne Arundel County residents through its Curbside Pantry Program.
• Homes for America- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute essentials such as food and transportation assistance, as well as items to maintain safe and healthy environments, including cleaning and hygiene supplies, to Anne Arundel County residents in their 300+ apartments for low income families with children, seniors, and persons with disabilities.
• Kid Changemakers- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute essential items such as food, medicine, baby supplies, baby food, formula, as well as items to maintain safe and healthy environments, including cleaning and hygiene supplies, to Anne Arundel County residents.
• The Light House Homeless Prevention Center- Project Light House Bistro - Food Distribution for Homeless and Food Insecure Community Members: Grant awarded to purchase and distribute food for Anne Arundel County residents.
• My Life Foundation, Inc.- Project Support Food and Basic Needs for the Asian American Community: Grant awarded to purchase and distribute culturally appropriate food and essential items to maintain safe and healthy environments to Anne Arundel County residents.
• New Life Fellowship International Ministries- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute essentials such as food, formula, diapers, medicine, transportation assistance, and items to maintain safe and healthy environments to Anne Arundel County residents through the organization’s ‘New Life Emergency Supply Program’.
• St. James Parish- Grant awarded to help individuals and families who face housing insecurity or homelessness in South Anne Arundel County.
• SheRises, Inc.- Project Emergency Baby Depot: Grant awarded to purchase and distribute essentials such as food, formula, diapers, medicine, transportation assistance, and items to maintain safe and healthy environments to Anne Arundel County residents.
• Walk the Walk Foundation- Project LOVE AACO: Grant awarded to purchase and distribute essentials such as food, formula, diapers, medicine, transportation assistance, and items to maintain safe and healthy environments to North and West Anne Arundel County residents.

“During these times of uncertainty, our community has come together to support one another. Responding to this crisis had highlighted our community's collective generosity and strength,” said Mary Spencer, President & CEO of CFAAC. “The Foundation’s staff have been working swiftly to review and approve grants to provide relief to those that need it most and to ensure that the organizations funded touch all areas of Anne Arundel County.”

More than $400,000 has been raised so far from CFAAC’s donor advised funds, individual donors, foundations, and local businesses. CFAAC will continue grantmaking through the Community Crisis Response Fund, adapting and expanding the focus areas based on the needs of the community, for as long as funding is available. The fifth cycle of grantmaking will open on August 3^rd, and will award grants to local nonprofit organizations that are addressing the increase in community needs and demand for services in the following impact areas: food and/or family support for basic human needs, or services to those facing homelessness or housing insecurity as a result of COVID-19.

Those wishing to contribute can:

• Make a secure, tax-deductible online donation through www.cfaac.org.
• Mail a check payable to “CFAAC” with “Community Crisis Response Fund” in the memo line to: 900 Bestgate Road, Suite 400, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Organizations Seeking Funding:

Interested organizations should follow www.cfaac.org/community-crisis-response-fund.html-0 for more information or sign-up for CFAAC’s newsletter.

CFAAC’s Community Crisis Response Fund allows for funding priorities to shift according to the most critical needs in Anne Arundel County. All grants from CFAAC’s Community Crisis Response Fund will be made to IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) public charities; the fund is not able to provide grants directly to individuals.