MONTGOMERY - Just two weeks after the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan (CFOS) launched the Orange and Sullivan COVID-19 Response Fund, it has distributed $95,800 in grants to 24 nonprofit organizations to address immediate and longer-term needs of residents in Orange and Sullivan counties.

One of these organizations receiving a grant was the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Sullivan County.

“CCE Sullivan can't thank the Community Foundation enough for their generous emergency assistance grant,” said Colleen Monaghan, Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County Executive Director. “The next several months is uncertain for all of us, organizations and individuals alike. This funding will help us continue food delivery for some of our most vulnerable friends and neighbors by offsetting fuel costs and staff time for the Sullivan Fresh Market on the Move. We are proud to partner with the Community Foundation in being a trusted resource for Sullivan County residents.”

The Salvation Army was another grant recipient, receiving $5,000. Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, Salvation Army has donated approximately 60 boxes of food to the county to help different food pantries.

According to Salvation Army's Sullivan County Outreach Coordinator Samantha Keaton, the grant will be used to purchase more food boxes through their partners, as well as work to fill the current community need for diapers and formula.

Once the crisis began, Keaton said, “We immediately saw an increase of three times the normal demand in Sullivan County and in our operations budget we didn't expect a pandemic.” She added that the grant will help them in meeting the new demand.

Additional nonprofit organizations that received grants included: Newburgh Armory Unity Center; St. Paul's United Methodist Church; Shepherd's Kitchen; Sacred Heart Parish Outreach; Rural & Migrant Ministry; Country Kids Food Pantry; Food for Kids; RECAP; Jewish Family Services of Orange County; Food Bank of the Hudson Valley;First Reformed Church of Walden; Community Action; San Miguel Academy of Newburgh; Hudson Valley Basket Brigade; A Single Bite; Liberty, NY Rotary Club Foundation Inc.; Newburgh Urban Farm and Food Initiative; Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless, Inc.; SUNY Sullivan; United Way of Sullivan County; Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties; and Salvation Army of Greater N.Y.

The Orange and Sullivan COVID-19 Response Fund distributes grants of up to $5,000 each to established nonprofit organizations that provide front-line services to the counties' most vulnerable populations - food for needy families and essentials, such as prescription drug deliveries to homebound senior citizens and people with compromised immune systems.

The Gerry Foundation, Rowley Family Foundation, Ralph E. Ogden Foundation, Frommer and Spagnoli Families, RJ Smith and Family, Dominic and Amy Cordisco, Barbara Martinsons, Wallkill Valley Federal Savings and Loan, as well as an anonymous donor provided initial funding for the fund, contributing $250,000 collectively so as not to delay response.

Since its inception, the fund has raised nearly $300,000. Grant requests are coming in daily, and CFOS is looking to the public for donations to meet escalating needs in both counties.

“We are grateful to those who have already contributed generously and ask that those that are inspired to help consider making a donation to this effort to help our neighbors and community members now and in the weeks ahead,” said Elizabeth Rowley, CFOS President and CEO. “During this unprecedented health crisis, the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan seeks to quickly respond to ensure that our valuable community-based organizations are able to do everything they can to ensure people are fed and safe.”

Donations at any level are currently being accepted at www.cfosny.org.

One-hundred percent of donations to the fund will stay in Orange and Sullivan counties. Nonprofit organizations providing response services to Orange and Sullivan residents during this pandemic are encouraged to apply for grants at www.cfosny.org.

In Grants for JA --

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