The Gulf Coast Community Foundation and Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation have awarded more than $880,000 in grants from their joint COVID-19 Response Initiative, providing relief to nonprofit organizations leading the region’s COVID-19 assistance efforts.  Additionally, donors to Gulf Coast Community have directed nearly $1 million in grants from their donor funds at the foundation for COVID-19 impacts locally and beyond, bringing the total to more than $1.8 million. 

More than 30 grants have been awarded from the foundations’ COVID-19 Response Initiative to date, falling into several high-need areas. Almost 40 percent of the funding is supporting emergency assistance like food and housing. About a quarter has helped sustain vital health care and behavioral health services, often through telemedicine and virtual counseling.   

The following grants, totaling $580,350, were awarded from the COVID-19 Response Initiative from April 9-15: 

Basic needs

All Faiths Food Bank

$40,000 for hunger relief in Sarasota County. Funded by $20,000 from the Truist Charitable Fund, matched by the COVID-19 Response Initiative; plus,  $110,000 to address increased demand in Sarasota and DeSoto counties. Funded by $85,000 from William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, matched by $25,000 from the COVID-19 Response Initiative. 

Meals on Wheels of Sarasota

$75,000 to meet increased demand during the pandemic. Funded by $15,000 from William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, matched by $60,000 from the COVID-19 Response Initiative.

Harvest House

$50,000 to meet the immediate needs of clients, including increased demand at its community food pantry  

Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center

$10,700 to deep clean its shelter facility, supply food for clients, offer virtual therapy, and provide hazard pay for shelter staff

The Salvation Army of Sarasota

$650 to provide emergency assistance to North Port residents

Health Care and Mental Health

Tidewell Hospice

$100,000 to support additional staffing and medical supplies amid a surge in need for in-home care as area hospitals manage their bed capacity

First Step of Sarasota

$11,800 to deep-clean residential facilities for its crisis stabilization, jail diversion, and high-risk adolescent substance-abuse recovery programs

Jobs and Financial Security

Goodwill Manasota

$33,700 to hire back five GoodPartner Coaches to provide counseling and connection to services for more than 330 furloughed Sarasota-area team members

CareerEdge Funders Collaborative

$20,000 to support displaced workers in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Funded by $10,000 from the Truist Charitable Fund, matched by the COVID-19 Response Initiative.

CareerSource Suncoast

$20,000 to support displaced workers in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Funded by $10,000 from the Truist Charitable Fund, matched by the COVID-19 Response Initiative.

Education and Childcare

Early Learning Coalition of Florida’s Heartland

$24,500 to provide virtual home visitation to mothers and grandmothers in Charlotte County to address their children’s developmental concerns

Children First

$50,000 to support staff, children, and their families during the pandemic. Funding includes $10,000 from the Truist Charitable Fund, matched by the COVID-19 Response Initiative.

Education Foundation of Sarasota County

$20,000 to support its services to Sarasota County Schools during the pandemic. Funded by $10,000 from the Truist Charitable Fund, matched by the COVID-19 Response Initiative. 

Suncoast Technical College

$4,000 to produce personal protective equipment on 3D printers for use by local healthcare providers 

Youth Services

Teen Court of Sarasota 

$10,000 to maintain supports for students and their families through virtual jury duty and community service, increased counseling, and help with unexpected needs