Within the last month, the Chaffee County Community Foundation has raised $280,000 and distributed more than $41,000 in emergency financial assistance.
The CCCF’s Emergency Response Fund has already provided assistance to 61 Chaffee households who have experienced a loss of a job or other financial hardship due to COVID-19. In addition, CCCF has funded two food related COVID-19 relief projects. Applications for individual assistance and organizational support are increasing daily, with 34 under review.
More than 275 donors have contributed to the fund thus far. Led by challenge grants from the City of Salida, the Town of Buena Vista, Salida School District, and the Board of County Commissioners, community donors have stepped forward quickly and generously to help support their neighbors.
The ERF’s major donors who have agreed to be acknowledged publicly include:
– The Town of Buena Vista………………………….$32,000
– The City of Salida …………………………………….$28,000
– Board of County Commissioners ……………….$25,000
– Salida School District ……………………………….$20,000
– Colorado Mountain College ………………………$20,000
– Fertile Ground Fund …………………………………$15,000
– Nestlé Waters………………………………………….$15,000
– Don and Pam Dubin Charitable Fund…………$10,000
– High Country Bank…………………………………..$5,000
– Collegiate Peaks Bank……………………………..$2,000
– Legacy Bank …………………………………………..$1,000
– TBK Bank ……………………………………………….$1,000
– Mountain River Credit Union……………………..$1,000
CCCF Executive Director Joseph Teipel says “The outpouring of support has been amazing to see, and with the support of Chaffee Department of Human Services, as well as CCCF’s amazing board members, we can now approve financial aid to families within 48 hours of receiving their application. But the need in our community is great, and we need to ensure the level of support we saw initially continues.”
With social distancing measures still in place, and applications rising rapidly, CCCF anticipates that community needs related to COVID-19 will outstrip the current ERF balance and is continuing to ask community members who are able to contribute, to do so either online or via check made out to CCCF with “ERF” in the memo line.
For more information or to donate, go to www.chaffeecommunity.org/erf. Teipel says “Many community members have let us know that they will be donating all or a portion of their federal stimulus checks to the ERF. This is a beautiful example of community generosity.”
Applicants for the ERF Can Seek Assistance Now
CCCF is partnering with Chaffee County Department of Human Services (DHS) to accept applications for assistance. The process is live and ready. To find out if they are eligible, individuals and households with financial need related to COVID-19 have three options to contact DHS:
1. Call: (719) 530-2500
2. Email: chaffeebenefits@state.co.us
3. Fill out an online Google form linked at www.chaffeecommunity.org/erf
If you or anyone you know lost a job, had hours cut, or have other needs brought on by the novel coronavirus, please reach out the DHS today.
Nonprofit Assistance Available
CCCF is also offering direct assistance to nonprofit organizations that have a creative solution to a COVID-19 related community need or are themselves adversely impacted financially due to the virus can apply for assistance to CCCF at: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=ccgrants.
Follow CCCF on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for their newsletter at www.chaffeecommunity.org to get notifications and updates.
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