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In its second round of COVID-19 Rapid Response Grants, the Outer Banks Community Foundation has announced $37,680 in emergency funding to nine local nonprofits, supporting their efforts to provide for the basic, urgent needs of Outer Bankers during the COVID-19 crisis.

“As this pandemic deepens, our nonprofit partners are rising to overcome serious obstacles and are determined to continue ensuring that their clients have access to basic services,” said Lorelei Costa, OBCF executive director. “These leaders are acting with courage, perseverance and selfless generosity and we are honored to be able to help support our partners who are meeting the most essential needs of our community.”

OBCF awarded almost $30,000 to local food assistance programs across the Outer Banks. Grantees include the Beach Food Pantry, the Bread of Life Food Pantry in Ocracoke, Hatteras Island Meals, Lifeline Outreach in Salvo and Food For Thought. These organizations are all serving record numbers of clients through the COVID-19 crisis. Rapid Response Grants will restock pantry shelves, purchase additional refrigeration, support home-delivered meals for at-risk seniors, deliver grocery hampers and provide food vouchers for families in need.

Rapid Response Grants are also helping the community’s homeless population. Room in the Inn, a nonprofit that organizes shelter for the homeless through the winter months, is now able to extend their season, thanks in part to a $5,000 grant from OBCF. The Rapid Response Grant will allow them to continue sheltering homeless adults for at least another month through the COVID crisis, following CDC health and safety guidelines for emergency shelters.

The Community Care Clinic of Dare was awarded $939 in support of new telemedicine services. The grant will purchase blood pressure cuffs and no-patient-contact thermometers, so that clinic staff may safely provide quality care for their patients with chronic conditions through telemedicine.

The Outer Banks Community Foundation has now awarded over $90,000 in COVID-19 Rapid Response Grants. Although priority for these grants has been given to meeting basic human needs through the crisis, especially food and nutritional assistance, OBCF has also been able to utilize special funds to help with other projects. For example, dedicated funds to help animals will support the Coastal Humane Society, Feline Hope and Friends of Felines in supplying dog food, cat food and cat litter at local food pantries, helping people care for their pets during this difficult time.

Dedicated funding to help people with disabilities is supporting Easterseals UCP in purchasing “sensory bags” for their clients with intellectual disabilities from Dare and Currituck counties. The bags will include items that clients can use at home during this socially isolating time to support language development, cognitive growth, motor skills, problem-solving skills and social interaction.

The Outer Banks Community Foundation continues to accept applications for its COVID-19 Rapid Response Grant Program. Grant requests will be accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed every two weeks to ensure quick decisions and timely programs. The third application deadline is 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 16; decisions will be announced on Tuesday, April 21.

To be eligible for a COVID-19 Rapid Response Grant, programs must be related to the coronavirus crisis, either directly (e.g., care for patients) or indirectly (e.g., assistance to out-of-work residents). Priority has been given to meeting essential human needs, especially food and nutritional assistance. Other priorities may include medical care, shelter, other essential supplies and needs (e.g., face masks, sanitation supplies), support for essential workers, remote learning and health and wellness programs, including mental health programs. Special emphasis may be given to at-risk populations, including the homeless, the elderly, people with financial need, essential workers, people with disabilities and people with health risks.

To apply for a Rapid Response Grant, nonprofits should first call OBCF at 252-261-8839 to discuss programs and funding needs. From there, requests can be submitted via an emailed one- or two-page letter in PDF format, briefly describing the nonprofit’s mission, the project at hand, the dollar amount requested, the local need it would meet and the beneficiaries of the proposed program. For more information about all of these programs and how to apply, visit www.obcf.org/grants.

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