We opened our COVID-19 response fund on April 13th. In the past month we have had a strong response from the community and have selected over 30 neighborhood groups and organizations to provide funding to support the emerging needs of Black pregnant and parenting families in St. Louis.
We will be taking the next couple of weeks to take a brief pause to ensure that the partners selected for funding have the resources they need to be able to carry out their projects. We also want to take this time to reflect on how our review process lifts up the voices of impacted communities. The world seems to change from day to day and so do families needs, and we want our process to remain nimble and responsive.
Please stay tuned. The next deadline to apply for COVID-19 funding will be June 3.
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The St. Louis communities most impacted by infant mortality are also experiencing heightened challenges due to COVID-19. In response, FLOURISH has allocated funding to assist community groups and nonprofits with projects that reduce the strain the virus has placed on Black families.
“We understand that many families in our region are facing added stresses, including job loss and difficulty accessing essential items, as we shelter in place,” said Brian Washington, manager of planning and partnerships at Generate Health. “We hope that this funding helps organizations assist Black families during this difficult time.”
FLOURISH’s COVID-19 Response Fund will award grants of up to $5,000 for efforts that fill critical gaps for families:
- Delivery of supplies, such as food and toiletries, to homes.
- Providing formula and diapers, the items most families are in greatest need of.
- Covering utility and Internet bills for families (note: even though utilities have announced there will be no late fees for bills during this time, the expectation is that families will still have to pay them eventually – a challenge for those who are out of work.)
- Connecting families with hotspots, data minutes and subscriptions to virtual platforms that can enable them to have virtual visits with doctors and home visiting providers.
- Addressing transportation challenges and assisting families with access to essential items like groceries and baby supplies.
- Other ideas that support families during this time.
Neighborhood groups and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply. Please note that all projects must follow the CDC’s recommendations for maintaining social distancing to protect the health and safety of all those involved.
Applications are due by noon each Wednesday, and those selected for funding will be notified by that Friday afternoon. This will enable us to get funds out into the community as swiftly as possible. We will continue to accept applications weekly until funding is no longer available or when challenges caused by the virus are eliminated for families in the region.
Download an application and more information here.
Please contact Brian at [email protected] or 636-362-6241 with any additional questions.