United Way of Lake County announces $125K in COVID-19 fund grants

United Way of Lake County announced on Wednesday that it has awarded $125,000 in the third round of Lake County COVID-19 Community Response Fund grants to nine local non-profit organizations. This grant cycle focused on agencies meeting the COVID-19 related needs of seniors and those providing critical behavioral and mental health services for children and families during this time of crisis.

The third round of grant recipients are:

• CYN Counseling Center, to provide mental and behavioral health services for youth and adult survivors of abuse or trauma who can no longer afford needed therapeutic services.
• Elderwerks, to support one-on-one case management services for seniors and caregivers, and provide updated trainings and protective gear for caregivers serving on the front lines.
• Erie Family Health Centers, to establish telehealth mental health services and support increased needs for low-income people struggling with personal loss, self-isolation, and increasing economic instability.
• Family First Center of Lake County, to provide hot meals, food, toiletries, masks, gloves and other essential basic needs for seniors in hard hit African American communities through its Support Our Seniors Program.
• Messiah Lutheran Church, to support its Community Meal Program to address increased food needs for homebound seniors and low-income families, including “to go” containers, individually packaged utensils and PPE for volunteers delivering meals.
• Nicasa, to support the continuation of essential behavioral health services for substance abuse, mental health and problem gambling, and the bilingual HUGS Line (Handling Uncertainty with Guidance and Support) that provides free emotional help and recovery support.
• Pioneer Center, to provide for a bi-lingual therapist and two additional telehealth licenses to serve increasing numbers of families and youth in need of behavioral and mental health support.
• Rosalind Franklin University Health Clinics, to implement telehealth care for all child, teen and adult psychiatric and psychology patients, eliminating the need for in-person office visits and reducing patient and provider exposure to virus.
• Youth and Family Counseling, to implement remote, teletherapy services to provide mental health counseling and support for youth and families coping with loss, anxiety, depression, economic hardship and upheaval within their lives.

The Lake County COVID-19 Community Response Fund unites funds raised by philanthropies, corporations and individuals to support nonprofits on the front lines of the crisis addressing Lake County’s greatest needs.

Since launching the fund on March 20, a total of $338,262 from the fund has been granted swiftly back into the Lake County community to 22 nonprofits so they can continue their critical work serving our most vulnerable neighbors.

Additional grants will be awarded on a rolling basis to quickly respond to urgent and evolving needs, as funds are available. Details of the next grant opportunity will be announced the week of May 4 with disbursement targeted for the week of May 11.

For more information about the Lake County COVID-19 Community Response Fund, or to donate, visit LIVEUNITEDlakecounty.org/covid19.

ABOUT UNITED WAY OF LAKE COUNTY

United Way of Lake County’s mission is to unite leadership and resources to create lasting change that will improve lives in Lake County, Illinois. United Way recently launched 211, a free, confidential, 24-hour information and referral helpline, providing personalized help guiding individuals and families in Lake County to available health and human services.

Through the support of our partners and supporters, we are transforming communities by delivering programs and services that are timely, effective and scalable, with results we can measure. For more information, visit LIVEUNITEDlakecounty.org.