The Hampton Roads Community Foundation and United Way of South Hampton Roads jointly awarded $517,410 in initial rapid response grants to 34 nonprofits providing COVID-19 relief for people in South Hampton Roads.

Grant recipients are nonprofits working on the frontlines helping people with food security, emergency housing, household essentials and mental health counseling. The Community Foundation and United Way jointly provided funding, reviewed grant applications, and awarded grants.

Grant recipients are:

• An Achievable Dream Virginia Beach, $15,000 for food and other essentials for students and their families.
• Buffalow Family and Friends Community Days,$20,000 to feed people in South Norfolk.
• Children’s Health Investment Program (CHIP), $25,000 for essentials to help families in 11 home visiting programs in the region.
• Communities in Schools of Hampton Roads, $10,000 for mental health services for parents and guardians of students it serves.
• Cover 3 Foundation, $5,000 for breakfast and lunch for area children.
• Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, $50,000 for food distributed to residents in South Hampton Roads.
• ForKids inc., $25,000 for rental assistance
• Friends of the Portsmouth Juvenile Court Inc., $18,300 to feed Portsmouth residents and to purchase essential items.
• The Genieve Shelter, $10,000 for emergency shelter.
• Greater Hampton Roads Diaper Bank, $5,000 for essential items for families.
• Hampton Roads Community Action Program Inc., $10,000 for needs for families in the region.
• Help and Emergency Response Inc., $10,000 for emergency shelter.
• Hope House Foundation Inc., $8,000 to feed individuals living with developmental disabilities.
• Isle of Wight Christian Outreach Program Inc., $25,000 for food and essential items for people in Isle of Wight County.
• Joy Ministries, $15,000 for food and essential supplies for clients in the region.
• Judeo-Christian Outreach Center Inc., $10,000 for food and emergency shelter.
• LGBT Life Center, $18,000 for meals for clients.
• Meals on Wheels of Chesapeake Inc., $5,000 to increase the number of older adults with limited income receiving meals.
• Mercy Chefs Inc., $25,000 to prepare meals for people in need.
• Mercy Drops Dream Center, $20,000 for food to help Portsmouth residents.
• Oasis Commission on Social Ministry of Portsmouth/Chesapeake, $3,500 for food to help Portsmouth residents.
• PIN Ministry, $7,560 for food and essential supplies for people experiencing homelessness in Virginia Beach.
• Samaritan House Inc., $20,000 for emergency shelter.
• Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia, $15,000 to help older adults with food and essential items.
• Survivor Ventures, $16,050 for emergency shelter for survivors of human trafficking.
• The Salvation Army Hampton Roads Area Command, $25,000 for food and essential supplies for people in Chesapeake, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
• The Salvation Army Portsmouth Corps, $7,500 to feed people in Portsmouth.
• The Salvation Army Suffolk Corps, $7,500 to feed people in Suffolk.
• The Up Center, $25,000 for professional mental health care.
• Urban League of Hampton Roads Inc., $20,000 for emergency shelter and rental assistance.
• Virginia Supportive Housing, $6,000 for food and essential items for people permanently housed in South Hampton Roads after experiencing chronic homelessness.
• Wesley Community Service Center Inc., $5,000 for food to help Portsmouth residents.
• William A. Hunton YMCA, $10,000 for food to help Norfolk families.
• YWCA South Hampton Roads, $20,000 for emergency shelter.

“Our nonprofit infrastructure has been hit hard by this crisis and yet many are pivoting or increasing their services to respond,” said Michele Anderson, president and CEO of United Way of South Hampton Roads. “Together with the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, we are ensuring these human service agencies on the frontlines have the support they need to continue providing their critical services to our community.”

“The reality is that the needs run deep throughout our entire community,” said Deborah M. DiCroce, president and CEO of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation. “Our nonprofit partners continue to be on the front lines of responding to the crisis, which challenges their already tight resources.”

United Way of South Hampton Roads is the largest private funder dedicated to human service needs in South Hampton Roads. The Hampton Roads Community Foundation is the largest nonprofit grant and scholarship provider in the region.

Donations for additional coronavirus relief efforts can be made at unitedwayshr.org/coronavirus.