Ocala, FL (March 26, 2020) — The Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County this week began collecting information from local nonprofits facing immediate needs due to increased demand for services and resources, and some of their needs are dire. “We have child care centers caring for the children of healthcare workers who can’t get milk,” said Roseann Fricks of the Early Learning Coalition of Marion County.
On a new website page devoted to Nonprofit COVID-19 Needs and News, the Foundation has daily updates they email to nonprofits between 4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. each day as well as a survey link for nonprofits to complete that help populate the immediate needs list also on the page. More than 20 nonprofits’ needs are already listed with more added every hour since the survey went out late Monday afternoon.
“Our NonProfit Business Council steering committee met yesterday via Zoom meeting and have created a private Facebook group for local nonprofits to join, too,” said Lauren Deiorio, Community Foundation Executive Director. “The idea behind the Facebook group was to share not only needs but also surplus one nonprofit might have that could help another. However, we want the community to use our website page to see how they might be able to help other nonprofits in need.”
Several nonprofits joined forces yesterday for the Food 4 Kids food drive on the Downtown Square with nearly six tons of food collected for the backpack program, ensuring nearly 2,000 children will have food next weekend. Nonprofits sent volunteers who are unable to work right now to help collect food. “This is such a generous community, and amazing things can happen when nonprofits join forces at this time,” said Karla Grimsley, Interfaith Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the NonProfit Business Council.
For now, interested community members are asked to visit OcalaFoundation.org/covid-19 to see how they can assist a nonprofit in need. Area nonprofits should also visit the page for daily updates and to complete the survey.
The Community Foundation for Ocala Marion County is Building a Stronger Community…One Passion at a Time. Programs include the NonProfit Business Council, the Estate Planning Council, and the Nonprofit Resource Center in partnership with Marion County, the City of Ocala, the Marion County Hospital District and Advent Health.
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