Community support tops $2.5 million as Community Foundation Emergency Response Fund exceeds $1.3 million

Green Bay, WI – Emergency funds are immediately available for area nonprofits supporting local residents facing challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to generous donors, community partners and the Green Bay Packers, more than $2.5 million have been dedicated to address the immediate, mid- and long-term needs of our community.

$1.3 Million – Greater Green Bay Community Foundation: The Community Foundation’s Emergency Response Fund has grown to over $1.3 million. This fund will provide nonprofits in Brown, Kewaunee and Oconto counties with flexible resources to help support their immediate, urgent needs, with a priority given to direct service of the people most affected by this public health crisis.
$1 Million – Green Bay Packers Give Back: The Green Bay Packers have established a $1 million Brown County-directed fund, the Packers Give Back COVID-19 Community Relief Fund, at the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation. The Packers will consult with the Community Foundation to review and evaluate the needs to determine where the funds will be directed, both immediately and in the future.
$213,000 – Brown County United Way: The Brown County United Way Emergency Response Fund is providing assistance through Brown County nonprofit agencies to people impacted by COVID-19, and if needed, local flooding, and other public crises that may arise in the future.

Nonprofits complete one application at www.ggbcf.org to be eligible for both the Community Foundation’s Emergency Response Fund and the Packers Give Back COVID-19 Community Relief Fund. The United Way’s application is available at www.browncountyunitedway.org.

“The financial impact of the crisis has put the very survival of many essential nonprofits at risk while demand for their service continues to rise,” said Dennis Buehler, president and CEO of the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation. “Revenue sources they count on remain on hold while many volunteers and donors face their own obstacles.”

This week the Community Foundation and Green Bay Packers approved their first round of emergency response grants to 20 organizations across Brown, Kewaunee and Oconto counties totaling more than $283,000. These grants help address food and hygiene needs, housing assistance, transportation, medication and other basic needs. Recipients range from food pantries to homeless shelters and organizations serving individuals with disabilities.

Funding will continue to reach the community through the work of local nonprofits who serve the community’s most vulnerable. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis as review teams continue to consider pending requests and assess short- and long-term needs.

“Nonprofits depend on community support to ensure their long-term recovery, resilience and financial stability. Weathering this crisis will require sustained compassion and generosity from all of us,” said Mark Murphy, Green Bay Packers president and CEO.

To donate via the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation:
• Online at www.ggbcf.org
• By mail: Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, 320 N. Broadway, Ste 260, Green Bay, WI 54303

Brown County United Way has also awarded its first round of grants to Brown County agencies which totaled $71,704. Among the areas of need addressed by the grants are shelter, meals, specialized support for specific populations in need, childcare resources and other basic needs.

“We’re very thankful for the outpouring of support from our donors who have made these grants possible,” said Robyn Davis, president and CEO of Brown County United Way. “Our nonprofit agencies in Brown County do amazing work for people in need, which is more critical now than ever before.”

To donate to Brown County United Way:
• Online at www.browncountyunitedway.org
• By mail: Brown County United Way, P.O. Box 1593, Green Bay, WI 54305-1593, attn. ERF

The collaboration that exists between the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, Brown County United Way and the Packers ensures the latest information is being shared, so resources can be quickly and efficiently distributed.

Greater Green Bay Community Foundation First-Round COVID-19 Response Grants:

ASPIRO
ASPIRO creates opportunities for people with disabilities to reach goals, connect with community, and achieve independence. This grant award will provide emergency support to clients along with wage support for clients who are in contracted work.

Boys & Girls Club of Greater Green Bay
The Boys & Girls Club supports youth in achieving academic success, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle. This grant award will provide direct basic needs assistance to Club members and their families with health and hygiene supplies, educational materials and enrichment activities.

De Pere Unified School District
The Unified School District of De Pere will use funds to purchase nonperishable foods for weekend meal bags to be distributed to the families in greatest need.

Freedom House Ministries
Freedom House Ministries provides shelter, food, clothing, household goods and case management for families struggling with homelessness. This grant award will fund food and supplies needed to continue meeting clients’ basic needs.

Green Bay First Food Pantry
Green Bay First Food Pantry is serving the community through First Assembly of God Church. This award will enable the pantry to expand services from twice monthly to daily for those increasingly facing food insecurity.

Kewaunee Food Pantry
The pantry has seen increased usage while having to cancel donation events. Funds will purchase food to meet the growing demand and restock the pantry.

Love Life Ministry
Love Life Ministry provides ecumenical support to infants and new families and will use grant funds to provide clients with diapers, formula, new infant clothing, bottles and other basic necessities that young children need on an ongoing basis.

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of Denmark
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church hosts a pop-up pantry in Denmark that serves the rural area’s families for a small fee. With increased usage and greater need, this grant will provide food at no cost to families.

Paul’s Pantry
Paul’s Pantry is a volunteer-based pantry. Grant funds will be used to purchase nonperishable food items for distribution directly to individuals and families in the community facing increased need.

Resurrection Lutheran Church food pantry
Resurrection Lutheran Church’s food pantry serves Brown County families each month thanks to donations from four partner churches and additional supplies. With churches closed and pantry usage on the rise, this grant funding will supply the pantry now supporting clients with parking lot service.

St. Vincent de Paul
St. Vincent de Paul is a network serving people in need through relationships and support. Funds will provide rent, transportation and utility assistance to community clients.

Vivent Health
Vivent Health supports people affected by HIV. Grant funds will be used to support the organization’s food and medication delivery assistance programs, as well as its housing assistance efforts.

We All Rise: African American Resource Center
We All Rise supports the African American community. This grant award will allow this organization to support clients with food, hotel vouchers, rental assistance and other basic necessities.

Packers Give Back COVID-19 Community Relief Fund First-Round Grants:

Green Bay Area Public Schools
Green Bay Area Public Schools will rely on the grant award for a weekend meal program for families at selected Green Bay Area Public School sites.

Green Bay First Food Pantry
Green Bay First Food Pantry is serving the community with curbside pickup and delivery of food through First Assembly of God Church. This award will enable the pantry to expand services from twice monthly to seven days a week for those increasingly facing food insecurity.

House of Hope
House of Hope provides a safe and supportive place for young parents and children experiencing homelessness. This grant award will support flexible housing options for clients and specific shelter room needs in response to the current health crisis.

New Community Shelter
New Community Shelter provides safe temporary shelter, meals, education, and support to adult men and women. This grant award will fund the organization’s Community Meal Program which supports non-shelter community members with hot to-go meal boxes.

St. John the Evangelist Homeless Shelter
St. John’s supports individuals who are at-risk for or experiencing homelessness in the greater Green Bay community. Grant funds will address emergency shelter services, sanitation supplies, basic needs, transportation and motel vouchers for those in need.

Salvation Army Green Bay
The Salvation Army will rely on the grant award to support the lunch program and the food pantry program that distributes bags of food to community members. Funds will also be used to support transportation and delivery services associated with the meal program.

Transformation House
Transformation House provides men with shelter and programming at a reduced rate. Grant funds will be used to provide additional meals, hygiene products and other needs for the increased numbers of clients being served.

YWCA of Greater Green Bay
The YWCA of Greater Green Bay will use grant funds to cover the cost of planning, designing and marketing a childcare center plan for essential workers who are still in need of childcare resources.