July 29, 2020

“It became obvious to us early on that the level of threat imposed by the virus would be far reaching and would likely last for an extended period of time,” says donor Jim Moorehead. “Unlike the Mendocino fire disasters, which were in specific geographic areas for a short period, COVID-19 would likely affect wide swaths of the county’s population, directly as a health threat and indirectly by dealing a major blow to an already anemic county economy, which would lead to subsequent social ills.” This is one of the many reasons Jim and Arlene Moorehead, retired inn owners from the Mendocino coast, stepped up as lead donors to the COVID-19 Relief Fund.

The COVID-19 Relief Fund was established to provide support to individuals and families impacted by the pandemic. The early days of the shelter-in-place order were a whirlwind, with our primary goal being to identify where the greatest need was and how we could support the neediest. With the financial support of our lead donors we were able to establish the COVID-19 Relief Fund and get money out the door for food, rent, utilities, gas, and basic household items.

“We knew the Foundation was agile enough to respond to the immediate need,” says Moorehead. “This was important to us, especially with the potentially slow pace of federal resources to address the needs of individuals during the crisis. By giving now we are able to support those struggling right now in our own community.” Indeed, by quickly establishing the fund and collaborating with existing non-profit partners throughout the county, the Foundation has granted over $400,000 to individuals, families, and non-profits.

“This grant is a godsend,” says Richard Baker, executive director of Harrah Senior Center in Willits. “It will provide the financial means for us to serve over 9,600 meals to our senior community and those with underlying health conditions for a period of six months. Our partnership with the Community Foundation has allowed us to meet the increasing demand to provide a safe food delivery method for this vulnerable population during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Harrah Senior Center is just one of the fifty grantees who have received support from the COVID-19 Relief Fund, each working tirelessly within their community to continue to serve those in need.

“The Community Foundation was the logical choice for our donation,” continues Moorehead. “It has a proven track record for dealing with unexpected emergencies, such as the fires. They are truly a trusted local institution, and have a well-honed network of local non-profits who have been vetted and who have the requisite local knowledge to provide relief to those in need in a timely manner.” The trust of our donors enables us to respond to the needs of our community. We are incredibly grateful to our donors for believing in us and supporting the work that we feel is so important.

The faith of our donors is also what has allowed us to grow our relief efforts into a multi-sector COVID-19 Relief Program which provides support to individuals and families, non-profit organizations, and small businesses in Mendocino County. We now have three relief funds which people may contribute to based on their interests. These are:

If you feel inspired to support the needs of your community during the COVID-19 pandemic, please join us by giving today or by sharing this article to inspire new donors to join in our efforts. Together we can create a safety net so that even our most vulnerable neighbors can survive the uncertainty of the pandemic today and in the future.

To learn more about the Community Foundation of Mendocino County’s COVID-19 Relief Program, or to give to any of our relief funds, please visit our website: COVID-19 Relief Program

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