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Financial assistance is on the way

Grants will help agencies help people through recession

Staff reports

Published: June 29, 2009

MORGANTON - Community Foundation of Burke County has awarded $58,500 in Recession Response Fund grants to support local organizations' efforts to help people through the current economy's hardships.
The grants are aimed at providing basic needs including food, shelter and housing, heating and utility assistance and treatment of medical and mental-health issues exacerbated by the recession.
The grant recipients are:
• Burke United Christian Ministries, $5,000 for crisis relief.
• Good Samaritan Clinic in Valdese, $10,000.
• House of Refuge Ministries, $9,000.
• Mimosa Christian Counseling Center, $3,000 for the scholarship fund.
• Shekinah Food Ministries of Oak Ridge Baptist Church, $5,000.
• Options, $5,000.
• Outreach Center, $20,000 for food distribution and food bank.
• Prevent Blindness North Carolina, $1,500 for the Burke County Vision Resource Program.
The foundation in April sought local people's and businesses' support to create the Recession Response Fund. It has received $85,000 since then. The eight grants are the first disbursements.
"Our goal in establishing the Recession Response Fund is to give this community a means to help those who are being critically hurt by the economic downturn," said CFBC Executive Director Caroline Avery.
She continued, "We have been uplifted by the number of Burke County citizens who have contributed to this fund thus far. We have been touched by the exemplary work and dedication of organizations serving our community. We are humbled by the strength of what is possible when we work together."
CFBC President John Ervin said, "This is a community-wide effort to begin to address the financial crisis that many individuals and families are experiencing for the first time. These are tough times. As a community, we need to work together to help one another."
More Recession Response Fund grants will be awarded in the fall (the intention is to commit all of the fund's money in 2009). Groups that meet the grant criteria are encouraged to apply for funds. Guidelines, applications and criteria are on line at www.cfburkecounty.org.
Anyone wishing to help can make a tax-deductible donation to the Community Foundation of Burke County, PO Box 1156, Morganton, NC 28680. Include a note that the gift is for the Recession Response Fund.
To learn more about the Community Foundation or the Recession Response Fund, contact Avery at 437-7105, e-mail info@cfburkecounty.org or visit www.cfburkecounty.org.The Community Foundation's offices are in the Financial Center, 205 N. King St.