The Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC) established the Community Crisis Response Fund in 2018 to provide flexible financial assistance to qualified organizations in Anne Arundel County immediately following a violent incident, natural disaster or other crisis in our community. Due to the current health crisis, all funds raised through CFAAC's Community Crisis Response Fund will be used to meet the fast-emerging, immediate and long-term needs posed by the COVID-19 virus.

CFAAC’s Community Crisis Response Fund closed the first cycle of grant applications on April 10, 2020, awarding nearly $60,000 to 29 local nonprofits. The first cycle of grantmaking addressed the following impact areas: food security and support for basic human needs. These areas were selected by CFAAC based on feedback received from local nonprofits in regards to their greatest immediate needs, and is in alignment with CFAAC funding priorities, as defined in the most recent Community Needs Assessment: Poverty Amongst Plenty VI, On the Road to Progress for All. 

Grants were awarded to organizations that have seen a surge in requests and that are providing services to unique and underserved populations of Anne Arundel County of all ages. These include victims of domestic violence, recently released hospital patients, cancer patients, persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, persons who lack transportation, the homeless, and the recently unemployed. See below for a full list of grantees:

• Abundant Life Church- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute essential items such as food, baby supplies, diapers, and transportation assistance to vulnerable Anne Arundel County residents.
• Accessible Resources for Independence Incorporated- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute food to Anne Arundel County residents with disabilities.
• The ALS Association - DC/MD/VA Chapter- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute critical medical equipment to patients living with ALS who reside in Anne Arundel County.
• Anne Arundel County Food Bank- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute food to Anne Arundel County residents through the Emergency Pantry program.
• Anne Arundel County Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute essential items 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 families who do not have the luxury of transportation of any kind.
• Arundel House of Hope- Grant awarded to provide food, cleaning supplies, transportation and other needed items to operate the “Winter Shelter” which typically closes March 30^th but has remained open to serve 25 homeless men and women during the government-mandated ‘Stay Home’ order.
• Associated Catholic Charities, 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 through Sarah’s House homeless shelter at Fort Meade.
• Asbury Church Assistance Network- 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.
• Be Rose International Foundation, Inc.- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute food and essential items to maintain safe and healthy environments, including cleaning and hygiene supplies, to local low-income communities in Anne Arundel County.
• Blessed in Tech Ministries Incorporated- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute essential items such as food, prescriptions, and transportation assistance, as well as items to maintain safe and healthy environments, including cleaning and hygiene supplies, to Anne Arundel County residents.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County 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 youth through their six clubhouses located in Annapolis, Pasadena, Glen Burnie, and Severn.
• Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation- Grant awarded to fund the procurement of 250-300 additional meals for the ‘Feed Anne Arundel’ program. ‘Feed Anne Arundel’ is a collaboration between the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, Anne Arundel Connecting Together (ACT), the Anne Arundel County Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families, and 31 Anne Arundel County restaurants.
• Chase Brexton Health Services, Inc.- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute gift cards for food to Anne Arundel County patients seeking assistance through their Glen Burnie Center.
• Creating Communities- Grant awarded to procure 100+ healthy snacks for a "healthy snack drop" for children in low-income housing communities in Annapolis.
• Community Action Agency of Anne Arundel - Grant awarded to purchase and distribute essential items such as food, formula, diapers, and transportation assistance families who participate in South Anne Arundel County Early Head Start programs.
• Helping Hands of America Inc.- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute essential items such as food, formula, diapers, and transportation assistance, as well as items to maintain safe and healthy environments, including cleaning and hygiene supplies, to North Anne Arundel County residents through their Mobile Emergency Baby and Children's Pantry.
• Helping Hurting People, 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 through their food pantry.
• Homes for America- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute essential items 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.
• Kingdom Kare, Inc.- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute essential items such as food, formula, diapers, medicine, and transportation assistance, as well as items to maintain safe and healthy environments, including cleaning and hygiene supplies, to West Anne Arundel County residents.
• Langton Green, Inc.- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute essential items to maintain safe and healthy environments, specifically cleaning and hygiene supplies, to their Anne Arundel County residents who are intellectually and developmentally disabled.
• The Light House, Inc.- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute food to their at-risk or homeless clients in Anne Arundel County.
• Maryland Food Bank, Inc.- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute food to Anne Arundel County residents.
• MedStar Harbor Hospital- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute weekly, nutritional “harvest boxes” food to recently discharged Anne Arundel County patients as they isolate, regain self-sufficiency after hospitalized care, and return to their community. 
• Providence Center, Inc.- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute transportation assistance to Anne Arundel County residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who work at essential jobs and who otherwise would not be able to get to work. 
• South County Assistance Network (SCAN)- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute food to South Anne Arundel County residents.
• SPAN, Inc.- Grant awarded to provide prescription assistance to Anne Arundel County residents.
• The Arc Central Chesapeake Region- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute essential items to maintain safe and healthy environments, specifically cleaning and hygiene supplies, to their Anne Arundel County clients who are intellectually and developmentally disabled.
• Ulman Foundation- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute essential items such as food, prescription co-pays, and transportation assistance, as well as items to maintain safe and healthy environments, including cleaning and hygiene supplies for adolescent and young adult cancer patients in Anne Arundel County.
• YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County- Grant awarded to purchase and distribute essential items such as food, formula, diapers, and transportation assistance, as well as items to maintain safe and healthy environments, including cleaning and hygiene supplies, to Anne Arundel County residents who are victims of domestic violence.

CFAAC President & CEO, Mary Spencer said, “In times of crisis, it is always heartwarming to witness the generosity of our community through incredible acts of kindness, as our neighbors do what they can to help one another. The Community Foundation serves as a trusted community partner, connecting those who want to help, with an established process of quickly distributing funding where it is needed most. For those who are interested in making a financial contribution to support the most vulnerable members of our community, a donation to CFAAC's Community Crisis Response Fund will ensure that your dollars will be put to immediate use to make a difference in the lives of Anne Arundel County residents who need us now more than ever.”

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: 914 Bay Ridge Road, Ste 220, Annapolis, MD, 21403.
• Donate stock by contacting Taylor Milbradt at Taylor@cfaac.org
• Make a grant recommendation from a Donor Advised Fund at CFAAC using the FundManager portal or by contacting Kristen Krall at Kristen@cfaac.org.