| Beginning in March, the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation (PACF) began working to raise money for its Safety Net Fund and Hunger Fund to provide COVID-19 relief grants to area nonprofit agencies impacted by the pandemic. The community answered the PACFâs call for help and together theyâve raised more than $320,000 for the two COVID-19 relief funds. The PACF has made a commitment to grant 100% of donations received for COVID-19 relief back into the region.
The PACF recently awarded $38,241 in its fifth round of COVID-19 pandemic response grants, bringing the total awarded to date to more than $296,365, a total which also includes PACF Donor Advised Fund grants. Several of the recent grants were awarded through partnership with the Sisters Health Foundation (noted with an *). Agencies that received funding during the PACFâs fifth round of grants include:
* Calhoun County Committee on Aging - $5,821 to help purchase a vehicle to meet increased demand for home meal delivery.
* Calhoun County Family Resource Network - $2,770 to purchase shelving for food pantry.
* Choices Child Care Resources and Referral Agency - $2,000 to purchase personal protection equipment for childcare providers in Wood, Gilmer, Pleasants, Ritchie, and Wirt counties
* Community Resources, Inc. (CRI) - $4,000 to support program to provide rent and mortgage assistance to individuals impacted by COVID-19 and $2,500 to enable families to double their SNAP dollars to purchase produce at CRIâs farmers market.
* Friendship Kitchen - $2,000 to purchase food for meal program.
* Gilmer County Historical Society - $1,000 in operating support.
* Gilmer Public Library - $900 to purchase solar charging stations to place outside of library to assist those accessing internet for remote learning.
* Little Kanawha Resource Conservation and Development â $4,000 to support the Project Sharing program.
* Normantown Historical Community Center - $500 to purchase food for the food pantry that serves Gilmer County residents.
* Parkersburg Catholic Schools - $1,750 to purchase electrostatic sprayers to disinfect schools.
* PATCH 21 - $3,000 to install internet server and access points throughout Roane County to enable area students and teachers to access the internet for online learning needs.
* Westbrook - $5,000 for deep cleaning and sanitation of facilities.
* Wirt County Ministerial Alliance/Hope Shop Food Pantry - $3,000 to stock their food pantry.
While the PACF is best known for partnering with local citizens to build permanent long-term charitable funds for the betterment our region, the Foundation is also flexible and uniquely positioned to serve as a strong community partner in emergencies. The PACF is actively contacting nonprofits to assess COVID-19 impact on their communities and identifying ways to respond to these needs. Agencies seeking assistance should contact the PACF at 304-428-4438 or by email to  marian.clowes@pacfwv.com
Donations to support the PACFâs Hunger Fund and Safety Net Fund are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated. To learn more about these funds and the work that the Foundation is doing to address COVID-19 in our region, visit  www.pacfwv.com/COVID19
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