United Way of the Florida Keys Invests $233,000 to Benefit Local Residents through 20 Non-Profits

 

Florida Keys – United Way of the Florida Keys is excited to announce $233,000 in grants to 20 local nonprofits. As the 2019-20 Community Investment partner agencies, these non-profits will work with UWFK to provide access to nutritious food, education, financial stability and Hurricane Irma recovery for Monroe County residents.

Community volunteers review and evaluate applications as well as conduct site visits to each agency applying for funding. As a local organization, UWFK utilizes this volunteer engagement to ensure the funding decisions are made by the community, for the community. Requests for support totaling over $860,000 shows there is much need in Monroe County.

UWFK knows long-term hurricane recovery work is still needed and is strategically utilizing remaining disaster funds accordingly for this grant cycle. At the same time, as the community recovery progresses and the Keys continue to return to normal over the next year, UWFK support is aligned with previous years.

FKOC Case Manager Erika assists a client with obtaining services.

Nearly half of year-round Monroe County residents are considered ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed).  Due to the high cost of living and circumstances beyond their control, these households struggle to survive on a daily basis. UWFK support through the 20 nonprofit partners helps ensure these residents have food on the table, quality childcare for their children, and support to prevent them from slipping further into poverty or homelessness.

Working alongside their 20 partner nonprofits through these 26 programs, UWFK will better the lives of more than 15,000 local residents this year.

2019-20 grant recipients providing access to nutritious food include:

  • BURTON MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, $10,000, to supply groceries through their food pantry and hot dinners once a week and on holidays.
  • FLORIDA KEYS CHILDRENS SHELTER, $5,000, to provide residential children with healthy home-cooked meals and snacks daily.
  • FLORIDA KEYS HEALTHY START COALITION, $5,000, to provide nutritional information and education during pregnancy, for breastfeeding mothers, infants, and toddlers, as well as specialty foods and related supplies for infants or pregnant women in crisis.
  • FLORIDA KEYS OUTREACH COALITION, $7,000, to support their primary and secondary food pantries in Key West.
  • INDEPENDENCE CAY, $6,500, to provide hot meals and shower/laundry facilities in Marathon.
  • KEYS AREA INTERDENOMINATIONAL RESOURCES, $12,000, to stock and maintain their Marathon food pantry.
  • METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH KEY WEST, $4,000, to deliver meals and groceries to elderly Key West shut-in residents.
  • MONROE ASSOCIATION FOR REMARCABLE CITIZENS, $3,500, to provide a nutritious lunch for residential and community clients with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
  • STAR OF THE SEA FOUNDATION, $27,000, to obtain bulk and recovered food throughout the Keys.
  • WESLEY HOUSE FAMILY SERVICES, $8,000, to provide a weekly backpack of food for children enrolled at the Inez Martin Daycare Center in Key West.

2019-20 grant recipients providing education include:

  • BAHAMA VILLAGE MUSIC PROGRAM, $7,000, to support before and after school music lessons for children in the Lower Keys.
  • BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE KEYS AREA, $7,000, to provide scholarships for summer camp fees for children in the Lower Keys.
  • BURTON MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, $4,000, to provide childcare scholarships for Upper Keys children.
  • FLORIDA KEYS HEALTHY START COALITION, $6,500, to provide early childhood education programs countywide.
  • GRACE JONES COMMUNITY CENTER, $7,000, to offer childcare scholarships for children of working parents in the Marathon area.
  • MARATHON RECREATION CENTER, $10,000, to provide after-school and summer care for children of working parents in the Marathon area.
  • ST COLUMBA EPISCOPAL CHURCH, $8,000, to provide free childcare including snacks, tutoring, and transportation at The Hammock House in Marathon.
  • YMCA OF SOUTH FLORIDA, $4,000, to support the Upper Keys YMCA after school program.

2019-20 grant recipients providing safety net services:

  • DOLPHINS TO STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, $1,000, to support the Living Water Rx Project, providing critical prescription medication assistance to residents.
  • FLORIDA KEYS AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER PROGRAM, $3,500, to provide a dental health program, mental health assessments, and no-cost primary care services for Monroe County children.
  • FLORIDA KEYS OUTREACH COALITION, $15,000, to prevent homelessness of financially challenged individuals and families throughout Monroe County by providing emergency assistance.
  • KEYS AREA INTERDENOMINATIONAL RESOURCES, $9,000, to help Middle Keys families with obtaining or maintaining housing.
  • LEGAL SERVICES OF GREATER MIAMI, $3,000, to provide free legal clinics in Monroe County.

2019-20 grant recipients providing long-term hurricane recovery services:

  • CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF MIAMI, $15,000, to provide emergency financial assistance for residents still recovering from Hurricane Irma.
  • FLORIDA KEYS OUTREACH COALITION, $20,000, to assist residents impacted by Hurricane Irma with resources and opportunities to attain residential, financial & personal stability.
  • KEYS AREA INTERDENOMINATIONAL RESOURCES, $25,000, to help Middle Keys families with ongoing needs directly related to Hurricane Irma.

UWFK will also announce later this summer approximately $48,000 in hurricane Irma funding to further support other post-hurricane unmet needs.  Further details about UWFK’s hurricane relief efforts are available at KeysUnitedWay.org.

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