Community Foundation of East Mississippi grants COVID-19 relief to nonprofit organizations

The Community Foundation of East Mississippi has awarded COVID-19 relief funds to many nonprofit organizations to help ease the financial burden of the ongoing economic crisis.

Each year, the organization awards grants for scholarships, teachers mini grant and other educational programs. This year, over $60,000 has been awarded to these organizations to help those fighting against COVID-19.

“This is going to be an ongoing fund that takes donations from the general public, businesses and all types of different places for people who are working to support the needs of those impacted by the pandemic right now,” says Executive Director Leigh Thomas.

With these funds, nonprofits are able to use them to their advantage. Afternoon Adventure Learning Center in Newton was a recipient of the grant and plans to use it for the students at their afterschool program.

“We tutor children in reading and math after school. We help them with areas they are weak in,” Afternoon Adventure Learning Center Executive Director Kristie Temple explains. “I expect to use this money to purchase chromebooks so each child can have their own. We’re also going to be needing PPE supplies-masks, hand sanitizer-items that can help during the pandemic.”

The Community Foundation of East Mississippi plans to continue to help the community as much as possible.

“We anticipate with our coronavirus relief and the other types of awards that we will make for the remainder of the year to award at least that much more,” explains Thomas. “We anticipate making over one million dollars in grant awards in 2020.”

The company plans to distribute more grants to organizations late next week.