The Faith Neighborhood Center food drop in April in Groveland. // Provided photos

The Community Foundation of South Lake County activated its Disaster Relief Fund in March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the foundation has released more than $140,000 in grant funding to 14 nonprofit organizations caring for people who are most affected by the pandemic.

“Our primary goal in jumping into action at the beginning of the pandemic was to streamline our grant process, process grant applications and quickly release much-needed financial assistance into the hands of organizations focusing on local food insecurity, rental and utility assistance, and the elderly, one of our community’s most vulnerable populations,” foundation Director Kathy Smith says in a news release.

The Faith Neighborhood Center in Groveland is one such grant recipient. At a recent food drop, the center saw more than 350 families lined up to receive the basic need of food.

“Each family got anywhere from 50 to 75 pounds of food—enough to make a difference,” Executive Director Patricia Kry says. “This pandemic is a huge thing that is going to change South Lake County, and we want to do our part in helping.”

A collaboration with partner granting organizations, along with generous donors from the community, helped make this possible. The foundation received a $25,000 challenge grant from the Morgridge Family Foundation, based in Denver. That, in turn, inspired a grant of $8,100 from the Live Well Foundation of South Lake. These gifts and other donations provided immediate funding to organizations like Faith Neighborhood Center, South Lake Community Ministries and United Way. The Morgridge Family Foundation then provided an additional $73,500, which was immediately disbursed into the community.

The Community Foundation of South Lake County, based in Clermont, was established in 1995 as a 501(c)(3) organization and has a mission to “serve our community through the connecting of resources and intentional philanthropic giving.”

To help, visit cfslc.org​.