BARROW COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Congratulations to our Non-profit Barrow County Chamber Members, Action INC, Adventure Bags, Boys and Girls club of Winder

By Press release submission

Mar 1, 2022

Barrow County Chamber of Commerce issued the following announcement on Feb. 25.

The eighth round of funding from the COVID-19 Community Response Fund provided $200,000 to Barrow County nonprofits supporting family stability, specifically for the provision of food, housing, and positive youth development. This round of funding is possible because of the Luther & Susie Harrison Foundation, which has direct ties to Barrow County. The organizations who received grants during this round of funding include: ACC SANE, ACTION Inc., Adventure Bags, Athens Area Diaper Bank, Athens Community Council on Aging, Barrow County Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club of Winder-Barrow County, Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, New Path 1010, Northeast Georgia Homeless Veterans Shelter, Peace Place, Piedmont CASA, Slater Foundation, The Tree House, and Winder-Barrow Brad Akins YMCA.

“Not only have we seen food requests and housing needs increase as the pandemic progresses, but mental health and educational impacts continue to grow for children, youth, and parents. Every one of these factors contribute to a family’s stability. By providing funding to organizations addressing these needs, families will be supported, creating a healthier community,” said Sarah McKinney, President of Athens Area Community Foundation.

Hosted by the Athens Area Community Foundation in partnership with United Way of Northeast Georgia, the COVID-19 Community Response Fund focuses on funding organizations providing immediate relief aid and recovery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, donors have contributed more than $780,000, and the fund has made eight distributions to 78 organizations and school systems totaling $700,000.

“We know that the pandemic has hit everyone, but we have seen how it has dramatically impacted families in particular. At United Way of Northeast Georgia, we understand that supporting the whole of a person or family is critical for their stability and success. We know that challenges do not exist in silos, and that one family member’s needs can impact the whole of the family. Caring for the whole family and their needs is important for family stability,” said Kay Keller, President and CEO of United Way of Northeast Georgia.

The Athens Area Community Foundation and United Way of Northeast Georgia are grateful for the financial contributions of more than 380 individuals, organizations, and businesses including contributions from Alice and Noah N. Langdale, Jr. Foundation, anonymous donors, Betty and Davis Fitzgerald Foundation, CareSource Foundation, First American Bank & Trust, Foundation for the Carolinas, George A. Ramlose Foundation, Georgia Power Foundation, Luther & Susie Harrison Foundation, Ross & Leigh Campbell with Georgia Skin Cancer & Aesthetic Dermatology, Saint-Gobain Corporation Foundation, South State Bank, The Caterpillar Foundation, The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, The Huffer Foundation, The Wilbur and Hilda Glenn Family Foundation, Truist, Zeist Foundation, and Athens Area Community Foundation Fundholders.

The fund is still open and accepting donations. Anyone can help by making a donation to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund. To make a donation, please visit www.athensareacf.org or mail a check to AACF, PO Box 1543, Athens, GA 30601 with COVID-19 Fund in the memo. Funds are granted to organizations based on greatest need according to data, community insights, and assessments. The funding is not restricted to current United Way of Northeast Georgia or other collective nonprofit-funded organizations.