Community Foundation Awards Additional $90,000 

To Further COVID-19 Relief Assistance 

The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys (CFFK) is providing an additional $90,000 from its Florida Keys Emergency Relief Fund to help Keys residents with food, housing, rent assistance, health care services, and more. The grants support 20 charitable organizations to deliver direct critical aid to low-income families, seniors, children, unemployed service workers, homeless individuals, and others throughout the Keys.

The latest grants from the Relief Fund will be used specifically for food vouchers, rent credits, infant and toddler essentials, clothes and shoes for the homeless, medical supplies, emergency housing, nutritious meals, local food distribution, health care services, animal care, and much more. Many of the nonprofits serve the entire Keys and over 50 percent of the funding will benefit Middle and Upper Keys residents. (A complete list of grants is attached.)

 “It makes us happy to get these checks out quickly to the nonprofits who are serving our residents in need during a rapidly-changing environment,” said Community Foundation CEO Jennifer McComb. “We’re also grateful to the generous Keys residents who continue to give to the Emergency Relief Fund. Donations have been made mostly online and range from $10 to $10,000. This is truly neighbors helping neighbors.” 

 An initial $25,000 gift from Shery Cotton seeded the Florida Keys Emergency Relief Fund for COVID-19, and to date, CFFK has received over 60 gifts from residents from Key Largo to Key West. The needs continue to grow as people are out of work longer and CFFK will continue to make grants as long as donations are received. The Community Foundation hopes those who can will join the caring individuals who have already given to support our community. Donations can be made at CFFK.org/help or checks can be mailed to 300 Southard St., Ste. 201, Key West, FL 33040. CFFK is distributing 100 percent of funds raised. 

  A wish list of pressing needs of health and human services organizations at CFFK.org/nonprofitneeds has encouraged some donors to earmark their gifts for specific causes. Wish list “angels” to date include Joyce and Ron Burd, Susan Cardenas, Kay and Larry Hirsch, and Greg Oropeza.

Since mid-March, CFFK and its fundholders have disbursed over $400,000 in community grants, including much-needed immediate aid for those most affected by COVID-19’s economic impacts. 

CFFK Grants from the Florida Keys Emergency Relief Fund

A.H. of Monroe County, $5,000 for emergency housing, rent assistance and food vouchers.  

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Keys Area, $5,000 for medical and educational supplies for reopening Boys and Girls Clubs.

Cooking with Love Program of the Metropolitan Community Church, $5,000 for home-cooked, mid-week meals and grocery bags for seniors and shut-ins.  

D.O.L.P.H.I.N.S. to Stop Domestic Violence (Living Springs Counseling), $2,000 for assistance with prescription medications. 

Florida Keys Area Health Education Center (Keys AHEC Health Centers), $5,000 for Health Center service expansion. 

Florida Keys Farm & Market Cooperative, $3,000 for fresh food distribution.

Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition, $5,000 for infant and toddler essentials and services to maintain the health of pregnant women and infants. 

Florida Keys Outreach Coalition, $5,000 for financial assistance for low-income households.

Habitat for Humanity of Key West and the Lower Florida Keys, $5,000 for rental assistance.

Independence Cay, $2,800 for services to keep the homeless safe, including building outdoor showers.

Keys Area Interdenominational Resources, $3,000 for food to meet increased needs. 

MarrVelous Pet Rescues, $5,000 for pet food and medicine relief program.

Middle Keys Marine Association, $5,000 for financial assistance for unemployed tradespeople and their families. 

Samuel’s House, $5,000 for rent credits to help tenants. 

Southernmost Homeless Assistance League, $4,856 for clothes and shoes for homeless individuals.

Star of the Sea Foundation, $5,000 for additional food sources for Monroe County.

The Educational Coalition for Monroe County, $5,000 for food vouchers, groceries and supplies for Middle Keys families facing food insecurity. 

Upper Keys Humane Society, $5,000 for food, supplies, medical care, and shelter for unwanted animals in the Upper Keys.

Whiskers & Paws Forever of Monroe County, $2,000 for pet care for crisis-impacted families in need. 

Womankind, $5,000 for medical services for patients.

Your Community Foundation of the Florida Keys, In Paradise for Good, will celebrate its 25th year in 2021. Since 1996, the Community Foundation has been helping individuals and families leave a legacy in the Keys by inspiring giving and by investing in people and solutions to benefit every resident from Key Largo to Key West. Over $30 million in grants have been made to student scholarships, arts and culture, beautification and preservation of the Keys, health and human services, hurricane relief, and youth programs. The Community Foundation is known for its signature “Unsung Heroes” event which honors nonprofit volunteers. For more information, call (305) 292-1502 or visit cffk.org.

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]