As the Pocono Mountains wages a battle against an invisible threat, its most vulnerable face a significant need in order to withstand the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
There are several efforts underway to meet that need throughout Wayne and Pike counties including the following:
MILFORD COVID RELIEF FUND
The Milford COVID Relief Fund (MCRF) has been created to aid nonprofit service providers and organizations struggling with the health and economic effects of the coronavirus.
MCRF will provide support to nonprofits that are trying to meet the new and urgent needs that have affected Milford’s residents, business owners and those who work in Milford. The fund was launched by a group of Milford residents, including Milford borough leaders and community members.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is having a profound effect on all our lives,” said Jenni Hamill, Executive Director of the Greater Pike Community Foundation. “We welcome efforts like the Milford COVID Relief Fund to help as they can.”
Tax-deductible donations can be made payable to “GPCF-MCRF” and sent to:
Greater Pike Community Foundation
P.O. Box 992
Milford, PA 18337
PIKE COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES INITIATIVE FUND
The Pike County Emergency Services Initiative Fund was established to provide funding to qualified Pike County emergency services agencies and other nonprofit emergency response organizations, including training programs.
Since its founding in 2012, the Greater Pike Community Foundation has become an important philanthropic leader in Pike County.
GREATER PIKE COVID RELIEF FUND
The Greater Pike COVID Relief Fund (GPCRF) will provide support to address immediate and long-term needs in our community resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund will provide aid for emergency relief programs and other community resources that will be more strained in the coming weeks and months. GPCRF has been established primarily to provide support to qualified relief efforts to those living and working in the greater Pike region that are being harmed by the COVID epidemic.
Monies will be distributed to qualified nonprofits and eligible government entities. The fund is accepting grant applications from any variety of nonprofit organizations within the greater Pike area that demonstrate a COVID-related need or emergency within our community. For more information contact Maryanne Monte at [email protected].
Contributions to the fund can be made online or via check payable to “GPCF-GPCRF” and sent to:
Greater Pike Community Foundation
P.O. Box 992
Milford, PA 18337
NEPA COVID-19 RESPONSE FUND
The Wayne County Community Foundation is participating in the NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund which will rapidly deploy resources to community-based organizations at the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak in the Northeastern PA region.
The NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund is a non-endowed, committee-advised field of interest fund which intends to provide flexible resources to organizations working with communities who are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and the related economic, social, and health-related consequences of the outbreak.
“The Wayne County Community Foundation’s goal is to help support nonprofits in this time of crisis so they, in turn, can support our community members in need,” said Executive Director Ryanne Jennings. Nonprofits can also apply for a 4th quarter grant cycle at the WCCF due May 1st.
The NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund is designed to augment and complement the work of public health officials and expand local capacity to address all aspects of the outbreak as efficiently as possible, particularly those that might be unable to be effectively addressed otherwise.
NEPA GIVES – JUNE 5, 2020
The Greater Pike Community Foundation and Wayne County Community Foundation have also teamed up with the Scranton Area Community Foundation and others to host NEPA Gives, a 24-hour giving marathon on June 5th. This is a one-day event that anyone can join from home, giving directly to the charity of one’s choice or even offering to match others’ donations to make a greater impact.
“NEPA Gives could potentially have a seismic effect on struggling organizations trying to survive this year, but they have to register! Signing up is easy and can be done remotely from any computer,” said Greater Pike Executive Director Jenni Hamill. “Once complete, nonprofits can get to work on spreading the word about this event and encouraging supporters to participate.”
How can my nonprofit organization participate in NEPA Gives?
- Sign up to participate and submit a $20 registration fee. Sign up by visiting: http://bit.ly/2SBdNQe
- Nonprofits will be able to begin building their NEPA Gives fundraising page beginning on March 31, 2020. Registration will be accepted until May 22, 2020.
Please note: The $20 registration fee for nonprofits will go directly to support the efforts to make NEPA Gives possible.
Greater Pike Community Foundation and Wayne County Community Foundation hope to make this the most successful giving event ever! You can help stretch your dollars more if you’re willing to become a matching donor sponsor. Sponsors can receive advertising on the platform the day of the event. Details about becoming a matching sponsor will be available soon.
NEPA Gives is Friday, June 5th 12:00 a.m. - 11:59:59 p.m.
CONTACTS:
Jenni Hamill – Executive Director
Greater Pike Community Foundation
[email protected]
(570) 832-4686
Ryanne Jennings – Executive Director
Wayne County Community Foundation
[email protected]
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Pocono Mountains visitor information is available online at PoconoMountains.com or by phone at (570) 421-5791. Follow @PoconoTourismPR on Twitter to stay current with up-to-date information. Established in 1934, the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau is a private, non-profit membership organization. The PMVB is the official destination marketing organization for the four counties of Wayne, Pike, Monroe, and Carbon in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
