Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley is announcing the first round of grants to be deployed from the Putnam Covid-19 Response fund. The fund launched at the end of March to provide caring community members with a charitable vehicle for making a difference. To date, community members have contributed tens of thousands of dollars which are immediately going to work in Putnam County.  
 
The first round of funding which totals nearly $20,000 is shoring up urgent services throughout the county, including feeding programs and mental health services. “For years, the Community Foundations has worked to build and strengthen philanthropic networks in Putnam County,” said Nancy Rossi Brownell, Vice President of the organization’s efforts in Putnam. “In this critical moment, we are seeing the value of the community foundation approach at work in our county.”
 
“We are grateful to our partners at United Way of Westchester & Putnam for mobilizing a parallel effort to shore up the resources of our county,” Brownell continued. “On behalf of all those whose lives will be touched by these grants, I want to thank the caring neighbors who have contributed to this fund. Your kindness demonstrates the heart of this community – and your impact demonstrates the power of collaboration. Lastly, we want to recognize the caring professionals who are delivering vital services at this time of great challenge. Working together, we know this community has the resources – material, and human – to help mitigate the difficulties others are experiencing in the wake of this global pandemic.”
 
Community members can donate here.

Organizations looking to apply for the next round of funding can do so here.
 
The list of recipients includes: Brewster Community Food Pantry, Community Cares, CoveCare Center, Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, Gilead Food Pantry, Philipstown Food Pantry, and Putnam Community Action Partnership.