HCF Covid-19 Response Fund

The Hamilton Community Foundation (HCF) established the HCF COVID-19 Response Fund designed to help address immediate needs in our community created by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

While our hospital, healthcare providers, emergency personnel, schools and local businesses are doing everything in their power to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus and meet the needs in the community, our local nonprofit organizations are also preparing to assist our community in a different way during this unprecedented time.

How can I help? 

Anyone who wishes to donate to the COVID-19 Response Fund may do so online at hcfne.org or by mail to HCF COVID-19 Response Fund, PO Box 283, Aurora, NE 68818 

General questions and inquiries about the HCF COVID-19 Response Fund can be directed to info@hcfne.org or by calling 402-694-3200.

 

It is our goal to provide resources to community-based nonprofit organizations that are directly supporting critical food and housing needs for individuals, families and seniors seeking assistance as a result of COVID-19. 

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting nonprofits in many ways, including increased demand for services, lost revenue due to closures and cancellations, as well as other challenges. The HCF COVID-19 Response Fund will help address some of the greatest challenges caused by the COVID-19 virus. With so many non-essential businesses closed or limited in their scope pf services, many Hamilton County residents are home without their usual means of supporting themselves and their families.

 

While this Fund is not able to provide grants to individuals, it will fund nonprofit organizations in Hamilton County that have deep roots in the community and strong experience working with residents experiencing financial strain. 

The first phase of the HCF COVID-19 Response Fund is intended to be a rapid response to the immediate needs of nonprofit organizations in Hamilton County who are working to alleviate the economic consequences of this outbreak to our most vulnerable residents. The first round of grants will prioritize support to nonprofit organizations that are working on the frontlines to provide emergency assistance, such as

  • FOOD INSECURITY: With school closings, families are having to purchase more groceries and many young people are missing meals that would have been provided in school. Low wage and/or hourly workers who cannot work may further struggle with access to food.

  • EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:  Families and individuals may struggle with rent, mortgage, or utility assistance due to job loss or loss of wages.

  • SENIORS:  Seniors are among the most affected by the virus and may also have less access to needed resources due to social distancing safety measures. 

We anticipate multiple phases of funding to address both the acute needs now and the longer-term impacts of the outbreak and recovery. We recognize the changing nature of this situation, and as the impacts continue to unfold, we will assess and evolve our funding strategies to extend support to nonprofit organizations experiencing strain as a result of disrupted operations and operational challenges.  

It is hard to anticipate what the greatest needs will be through the outbreak and recovery phases of this crisis, but the Foundation is prepared to partner with donors and other funders in the community to adapt to emerging needs as they arise.

 

We are fortunate to have local organizations in Hamilton County such as the Food Pantry, Backpack Program, Senior Center and Ministerial Association Cheer Fund who are already serving our community.

Many volunteers are preparing and handing out food and meals, delivering groceries and engaging in other random acts of kindness to care for others during such a significant time of need in our community. 

We are grateful to the leaders of our community working quickly and collectively to support the greatest needs in our community at this time. In times of crisis, coordination is vital in getting critical resources to those most impacted. The COVID-19 Response Fund was created in hopes of providing a way to coordinate as many resources as possible.