Food and diapers coming for needy South County families

Welcome House of South County received $40,000 to support its housing programs, community soup kitchen and case management. It's one of several organizations serving South County that were awarded grants from the COVID-19 Response Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation and United Way of Rhode Island.

“This will allow us to maintain all of our usual services and the mandated practices required to keep our residents and staff safe. At a time when expenses have increased and income has decreased, it’s a great relief to know that we can continue to take care of at-risk, fragile people who otherwise would be struggling alone during these next few months," said Roberta Richman, interim executive director.

The nonprofit is facing declines in donated food and income as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. In addition, maintenance costs have increased because the house must be thoroughly cleaned every day.

“We rely on rental income from transitional tenants for a large percentage of our budget. Many of our residents and tenants in transitional apartments have been laid off and so are unable to pay rent. In addition, our fundraising income has also decreased,” said Richman.

“In addition, in the past we very rarely had to purchase food because daily contributions were adequate to feed our residents and guests of our soup kitchen. Now our reserve food is quickly disappearing,” she said.

Statewide, the COVID-19 Response Fund awarded $1.4 million to 51 nonprofits. The grants ranged from $10,000 to $75,000.

“We are grateful for all who have supported the fund as the need for assistance has been surging all over Rhode Island. As Rhode Island’s community foundation, we are trying to build this fund to support those in need. The combination of the health impact and economic impact has brought us to the point now where it will take more resources to continue to provide help to people across the state,” said Neil D. Steinberg, president and CEO of the Foundation.

In addition to Welcome House, the recipients include Farm Fresh Rhode Island, The Salvation Army and Project Undercover, which will use its grant to distribute free diapers to South County families through nonprofits such as the South County Community Action Program and the Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale. Project Undercover estimates its grant will enable it to buy 90,000 diapers.

“When we first launched this fund in March, we asked the nonprofit community what they needed most, and they answered: cash assistance, medical equipment and food. Eight weeks later, we are receiving even more urgent requests,” said United Way of Rhode Island President and CEO Cortney Nicolato. “While we are seeing some positive signs in Rhode Island, and we appreciate every single donor who has stepped up to date, we have a long way to go to recovery. Continued support of the COVID-19 Response Fund is as critical today as ever.”

Donors have already contributed $8.3 million to the COVID-19 Response Fund. New gifts can be made with the Foundation at rifoundation.org/covid19response or to United Way at uwri.org/covid-19-resource-center/. Donations will be accepted as long as the need continues.