U.S. Virgin Islands, July 28, 2020
—
The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) has received a $34,000 grant from the AT&T Foundation in response to the Community Foundation’s application for assistance in supporting the CFVI Rapid Response Block Grant Program. Thanks to the AT&T Foundation’s generosity, CFVI will provide $8,500 to each of the following social service agencies:
Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands
;
Lutheran Social Services of the Virgin Islands
;
Methodist Training and Outreach Center
; and
Virgin Islands Partners for Healthy Communities
. These nonprofit partners will deliver assistance through case management targeted for elderly, disabled, and other vulnerable populations.
“The purpose of the Rapid Response Block Grant Program is to provide emergency financial assistance to individuals and families facing critical financial challenges,” said Anna Wheatley Scarbriel, CFVI’s Director of Grants and Programs. “While the USVI has largely been spared health-related impacts of COVID-19, the economic consequences of recommended public health safety measures are significant and expected to become more dire as the restrictions continue” she said.
Through trained caseworkers, the four designated agencies will process individual applications for assistance, up to $500. Priority will be given to applicants with one-time emergency needs, with a focus on: elderly, disabled, and other vulnerable populations (e.g., caretakers of children and/or the elderly, individuals with chronic medical conditions, individuals displaced from their homes, etc.). Allowable expenses may include: gift cards for grocery items, medical equipment, medications, rental/mortgage assistance, utility assistance, transportation costs, childcare costs, essential health/safety supplies (e.g., masks, sanitizers, etc.).
“CFVI also celebrates the generosity of the AT&T Foundation as an opportunity to give thanks to these four organizations, for their service to our community’s most vulnerable populations,” said CFVI President, Dee Baecher-Brown. “From their long-term commitment to the Territory, to their incredible community support in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and again rising up to the extraordinary needs during the COVID-19 crisis, the Territory is so fortunate to have such impactful nonprofit community partners. We are grateful for the commitment, dedication, and humility of the leadership at these organizations:
Andrea Shillingford
, Executive Director at Catholic Charities;
Junia John-Straker
, CEO of Lutheran Social Services;
Erma Derima
, Executive Director at Methodist Training and Outreach Center; and
Eurkres Rallings
, Executive Director for Virgin Islands Partners for Healthy Communities. It’s difficult to fully capture the debt of gratitude we owe to each of these women for the work they do to enhance the lives of all of us in the Virgin Islands.”
Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands
is a faith-based nonprofit that focuses on assisting the homeless. The organization provides homeless shelters, soup kitchens, health care, a summer camp for children with intellectual disabilities, food delivery, rental and utilities assistance, and other services.
Lutheran Social Services of the Virgin Islands
is a multi-service nonprofit organization headquartered in Frederiksted, St. Croix and the largest private child and family service agency in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization, serving the Territory since 1904, offers programs for abused, abandoned and neglected children, pregnant women and families, low income seniors and adults with disabilities.
Methodist Training and Outreach Center
has been providing outreach and support services to low income and the medically underserved populations, with specific emphasis towards the homeless and people living with HIV/AIDS, since 2001. MTOC provides and coordinates support services to address the needs of the special populations, including intake/outreach, case management, and referrals to specialty and subspecialty care.
The mission of
Virgin Islands Partners for Healthy Communities
is to improve access to primary health care services to the underserved population, specifically women, children and families; through outreach, education, system integration, case management, and community awareness.
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About the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands
Since 1990, the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) has been a catalyst for positive change in the Territory through initiatives committed to youth, learning, family support and the environment. With a professional staff and a volunteer Board of Directors composed of community leaders, CFVI is a trusted advocate and supporter of programs that ensure opportunity and sustainability for current and future generations. CFVI is a registered non-profit organization entirely supported by individual donors, grants, trusts, corporate donations and estate planning. For more information, visit
cfvi.net
.
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