Non-profit partners and tax-exempt service providers:
The Feed The Need Allegan COVID-19 Response Coalition [United Way Allegan County – Allegan County Community Foundation – Community Action Allegan County] has established the Feed The Need Allegan COVID-19 Relief Fund to respond to your immediate and emerging needs as a result of COVID-19.
Entities serving Allegan County residents are eligible to apply for relief funds. These grant funds are intended to affect those most impacted by COVID-19. Preference will be given to those serving low-income residents and/or the ALICE population. (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed)
Frequently Asked Questions:
What can the funds be used for?
Expenses incurred due to COVID-19: programs/service initiated or expanded in light of COVID-19, increased operational expenses, or increased provisions to clients are examples of appropriate expenditures.
Will all requests be funded?
We simply do not know at this time. We will continue to provide updates.
How much can we receive?
Currently, we ask that you provide the full amount you are currently experiencing or anticipating due to the impact of COVID-19. We will be awarding COVID-19 grants of $1,000 – $2,000 at this time. Your data will be captured to assist with our efforts to seek additional funding.
What is expected of grant recipients?
We will be looking for the impact the awarded grants made as a result of how your organization responded to new or increased needs as a direct response to COVID-19. We will want to capture the number of people your efforts impacted, what the total financial impact of COVID-19 had on your organization, and if your services impacted the low income or ALICE population.
Is there a specific report format we should use?
A report link will be provided at a later date.
How quickly will we receive the funds?
The goal is to provide grant awards via ACH transfer within 14 days. If your application is selected, you will be contacted for account information.
Who do I contact with questions?
Theresa Bray: TBray@alleganfoundation.org or 269.492.4474
Is there a deadline to apply?
Not at this time. If funds are depleted, submissions will be suspended.
How do I apply for COVID-19 relief funds?
This link will take you to the brief application. You will be notified if your organization was selected to receive funds or not.
Please visit www.feedtheneedAllegan.com to learn more, register as a volunteer, find instructions on how to make a gift of food or goods, or to make a financial contribution.
PRESS RELEASE:
May 11, 2020 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In these uncertain times, food insecurity is a grave concern. Our friends, neighbors, and family are in need. The Allegan County Food Pantry Collaborative annual cereal drive is an opportunity to help families through the upcoming months as we move through this pandemic together. While the process may be different this year, the goals are not: feeding children who don’t always know where their next meal is coming from. Any and every amount helps. Please donate today.
Because hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation…the Allegan County Food Pantry Collaborative (a program of the Allegan County Community Foundation) is excited to kick off our 6th annual Cereal Drive! This year’s cereal drive is social distancing, but we still need your support!
The virtual drive runs from May 18 – June 14, 2020. Our goal is 30,000 boxes – this sets the stage for the seventeen members of the Collaborative to provide cereal for families whose children are food insecure. This time for low-income families is especially difficult with increased food costs, rising unemployment, and the unknowns we are facing from the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of the drive is to provide one box, per child, per week for the upcoming months for those children whose families visit food pantries in Allegan County. If the schools extend their food programs through the summer – that’s GREAT – we will continue to feed the kids into the fall! 6,000 people are served by the member pantries of the ACFPC – nearly 3,000 of whom are children. Please help.
HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE IN OUR VIRTUAL CEREAL DRIVE?
* Text “CEREAL” to 44-321 to donate
* Donate with this QR code >>>>>>>
* Donate on-line at www.alleganfoundation.org
* Make and mail checks out to the ACCF at: PO Box 278, Allegan MI 49010 (in the memo line please note cereal)
ACFPC member pantries: Allegan United Methodist Church, Christ Community Church, Allegan County Food Pantry, Hamilton Christian Reformed Church, Diamond Springs Wesleyan Church, Hungry for Christ, Christian Neighbors Plainwell, St. Margaret – St. Vincent DePaul, Martin United Methodist Church, Christian Neighbors Douglas, Ladders of Hope, Love, Inc. Pullman, Hopkins United Methodist Church, Christian Neighbors Wayland, Project Hope, Epiphany Lutheran Church and Community Action House – Holland.
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We need your help with getting the word out on this very important drive which will help so many children in Allegan County. Thank you.
Allegan County Community Foundation/Allegan County Food Pantry Collaborative
Cereal Drive FAQ
Why are you changing to a virtual cereal drive this year?
We just don’t know how COVID-19 will impact us over the next few months. We know the cereal drive must happen, so a virtual drive was the best compromise in order to keep donors, pantry workers, and recipient families safe.
Can I still make a donation in person?
Yes! Every Wednesday from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm the Goods Donation Center (United Way Allegan County building at 650 Grand, Allegan) is open to receive donations. Those donations are quarantined for a minimum of three days and then picked-up by the ACFPC pantry members. Plus, we are setting up Pop-Up Cereal Drive locations throughout the county, practicing social distancing to provide the opportunity for those who would like to donate. To learn when and where the Pop-Up Drives will be, follow us on social media, sign up for our e-newsletter here, or check our website at alleganfoundation.org.
Why cereal at this time?
During this time when unemployment has increased and families find themselves unable to provide for their children, a single box of cereal can provide several meals for a hungry child.
With the stimulus checks, increased unemployment payments, and school meal provisions – is there really a need for a cereal drive?
Absolutely. Those increases provided a brief reprieve from the panic of being food insecure. At this time, schools are uncertain how much longer they can provide meals, we know food pantries are experiencing a steady increase in new families seeking assistance, and with so much uncertainty during COVID-19, the infusion of cereal for the children will make a significant impact for families reaching out to keep hunger at bay.
What will financial donations be used for?
Cereal purchases only.
Why cereal?
The nutritional value of cereal has improved tremendously over recent years. We encourage donations of kid-friendly cereal with 12 grams of sugar or less per serving. Cereal is also something easy for kids to make themselves and one box can provide many meals or snacks.
Donate From May 14 through June 18, 2020
Read Archived Press Releases:
2020
Non-profit partners and tax-exempt service providers:
The Feed The Need Allegan COVID-19 Response Coalition [United Way Allegan County – Allegan County Community Foundation – Community Action Allegan County] has established the Feed The Need Allegan COVID-19 Relief Fund to respond to your immediate and emerging needs as a result of COVID-19.
Entities serving Allegan County residents are eligible to apply for relief funds. These grant funds are intended to affect those most impacted by COVID-19. Preference will be given to those serving low-income residents and/or the ALICE population. (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed)
Frequently Asked Questions:
What can the funds be used for?
Expenses incurred due to COVID-19: programs/service initiated or expanded in light of COVID-19, increased operational expenses, or increased provisions to clients are examples of appropriate expenditures.
Will all requests be funded?
We simply do not know at this time. We will continue to provide updates.
How much can we receive?
Currently, we ask that you provide the full amount you are currently experiencing or anticipating due to the impact of COVID-19. We will be awarding COVID-19 grants of $1,000 – $2,000 at this time. Your data will be captured to assist with our efforts to seek additional funding.
What is expected of grant recipients?
We will be looking for the impact the awarded grants made as a result of how your organization responded to new or increased needs as a direct response to COVID-19. We will want to capture the number of people your efforts impacted, what the total financial impact of COVID-19 had on your organization, and if your services impacted the low income or ALICE population.
Is there a specific report format we should use?
A report link will be provided at a later date.
How quickly will we receive the funds?
The goal is to provide grant awards via ACH transfer within 14 days. If your application is selected, you will be contacted for account information.
Who do I contact with questions?
Theresa Bray: TBray@alleganfoundation.org or 269.492.4474
Is there a deadline to apply?
Not at this time. If funds are depleted, submissions will be suspended.
How do I apply for COVID-19 relief funds?
This link will take you to the brief application. You will be notified if your organization was selected to receive funds or not.
Please visit www.feedtheneedAllegan.com to learn more, register as a volunteer, find instructions on how to make a gift of food or goods, or to make a financial contribution.