It did not take long before Hamilton County’s social services non-profits rallied to address the immediate crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and begin planning for its inevitable long-term impact.
Dozens of food pantries, health care service providers and houses of worship immediately began working nonstop to adapt their work in order to provide essential services to Hamilton County residents who could not afford to stockpile food in advance of the state’s stay-at-home order.
The Good Samaritan Network of Hamilton County, which coordinates the Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) emergency services network, scrambled to find food supplies to replenish pantries. Churches used their faith-based channels to provide supplemental support. The township trustees began coordinating work.
The Hamilton County Community Foundation (HCCF), along with the generous support of the community, quickly established the Hamilton County Crisis Response Fund. This flexible fund will provide much-needed resources to non-profit organizations responding to the COVID-19 pandemic with essential services and experiencing financial challenges in meeting need.
The foundation’s quick turn-around operating grants will focus on organizations that work with the elderly or infirmed, youth and economically vulnerable populations. Selection will be completed by HCCF staff and board in partnership with Hamilton County COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) Executive Committee. Non-profit organizations that meet the criteria, can visit hamiltoncountycommunityfoudation.org/covid-19 for information.
A provision of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) currently includes a new above-normal donation of up to $300 to individuals who give to charities as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. The deduction will be available to individuals who itemize and to those who do not when they file their taxes next year. It also will lift the existing cap on annual contributions for those who do itemize from 60 percent of adjusted gross income to 100 percent. Limits for corporations will increase from 15 to 25 percent.
“Contributions are needed now,” said Good Samaritan Network Executive Director Nancy Chance, as there are now restrictions on in-kind food donations due to concerns over the virus. In addition, GSN is securing food by the truckload from throughout the United States to meet the food demand wherever possible.
“We also need to prepare for the eventual long-term impact the crisis will have on our community,” Chance added. “Thousands of workers have already been laid off and it’s likely to get worse before it stabilizes, creating an even greater need.”
Hamilton County’s housing partners also are already planning for that next phase as the eviction orders phase out post-crisis but money may not be available to catch up.
A recent $50,000 pledge from the Central Indiana COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund (C-CERF) will support various community programs through COAD and the Good Samaritan Network to help the community in crisis. C-CERF funding partners include the Central Indiana Community Foundation (through the Glick Fund and the Indianapolis Foundation), Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, Eli Lilly and Co. Foundation and United Way of Central Indiana.
Visit GSNLive.org for information on donating to the Good Samaritan Network, which will distribute support to its COAD agencies.
Hamilton County Tourism, Inc. is hosting a #LoveHC platform to rally support around community organizations, local businesses and government during the pandemic. Learn more on how to help at LoveHamiltonCounty.com.