Issued: November 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS This report is intended to be an update on Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
About the Fund...... 3
THE COVID-19 CRISIS...... 4
Results Summary...... 5
Funds Allocated...... 6
Services Supported ...... 10
Looking Forward ...... 11
Additional Information...... 11
2 Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund | COVID-19 Report | November 2020 About the Fund Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund was founded in 2016 by some of Immediately following Hurricane Matthew in October Northeast Florida’s largest nonprofit funders to help those affected 2016, partners of Florida’s by Hurricane Matthew. Relief Fund partners re-activated the Relief First Coast Relief Fund, alongside Jacksonville Mayor Fund in September 2017 for Hurricane Irma recovery efforts. The Lenny Curry announced the Relief Fund’s most recent activation in March 2020 was in response opening of the fund. (Photo provided by United Way of to the devastating financial challenges of the COVID-19 global Northeast Florida.) pandemic due to the cascading effects of lost jobs and wages.
Relief Fund partners include The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, Jessie Ball duPont Fund, Jewish Federation and Foundation of Northeast Florida, United Way of Northeast Florida and United Way of St. Johns County.
The Relief Fund is designed to help nonprofit organizations serve individuals and families in need during a community crisis. The Relief Fund for COVID-19 provided much-needed resources to struggling families by supporting local organizations who deliver essential human services to residents disproportionately burdened by this public health crisis.
In addition, thanks to the generosity of local foundations covering overhead costs, 100 percent of donations to Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund benefit local nonprofit organizations in Duval, Clay, Baker, St. Johns, Nassau and Putnam counties that provide safety- net services.
3 THE COVID-19 CRISIS Every day, more than half a million people in Northeast Florida – almost 40 percent of our region’s population – struggle to afford basic necessities. Early in March, Northeast Florida experienced a massive economic blow due to the onset of COVID-19. Businesses closed. Unemployment skyrocketed. Schools shifted to virtual learning. Child-care centers shuttered. Emergency rooms filled. Families were losing loved ones. Evictions and utility shut- offs loomed. The financial fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically amplified existing challenges and many families found themselves in need for the first time in their lives. This created unprecedented demands on nonprofits, who are also facing hardship.
For example, United Way 211’s contact center received nearly double the calls year over year seeking referrals to community services, including food and financial assistance. Jewish Family and Community Services saw an unprecedented waiting list for financial assistance. Moreover, food providers like Feeding Northeast Florida experienced a tidal wave of demand on their food supply — not to mention their supply chains.
TOP NEEDS: JANUARY TO OCTOBER 2019 2020 With a grant provided by 80000 80000 Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund, 70000 70000 Trinity Rescue Mission increased 60000 60000 its available services, including Housing Transportation Housing 50000 50000 isolating the most vulnerable Utilities Medical services Utilities 40000 40000 homeless population at a Food Mental health Food 30000 30000 separate location. The agency 20000 20000 VITA/tax assistance Children's needs VITA/Tax assistance also took extra recommended 10000 10000 Transportation steps to help the homeless, 0 0 including implementing social Source: United Way 211 referral statistics Mental health distancing, increasing already Medical services Housing stringent hygiene guidelines, Children's needs and increasing training for staff, Utilities volunteers and residents. The Relief Fund provided flexible resources to nonprofits in our region Food responding to urgent needs resulting from COVID-19 disruption. Mental health Medical services VITA/Tax Assistance Since the launch of the Relief Fund for COVID-19 in March, millions Children's Needs of dollars were donated by foundations, corporations, individuals Transportation and the City of Jacksonville. On behalf of the Relief Fund partners and those helped by the funds, we thank the community for its generous support in these historic, critical efforts.
4 Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund | COVID-19 Report | November 2020 RESULTS SUMMARY From March 16 to Sept. 16, 2020, $5.5 million* was raised. In an Thank you unprecedented response, the Relief Fund awarded $5.4 million The profound impact to 112 organizations providing support for immediate needs of the Relief Fund for associated with the financial fallout of COVID-19. You can find a list COVID-19 response of these organizations and their allocations beginning on page 6. was made possible by 390 corporations, The Relief Fund is designed to retain a balance so it is poised to foundations and respond immediately in a crisis. Following this COVID-19 response, individuals. Visit the balance is $240,509. unitedwaynefl.org/ relieffund/reporting 408,477 individuals and 88,441 households received support for full listing of donors. from the Relief Fund. In certain cases, some individuals or households received multiple services. Our case management partners assisted many families unable to make ends meet as a result of COVID-19, including struggling to feed their families, the inability to pay utility *As noted on page 3, some funding was provided bills and facing homelessness. for administrative costs.
individuals and Households served by county, Reported percentage St. Johns 18.5% Putnam 11.7% Nassau, 5.2%
Clay, 3.4% Baker, 1.2%
Duval 60%
“For so many families who are now facing unemployment, reduced hours at work, lost wages and tips, mounting bills to pay and scarcity of everyday resources, the resources available to Jewish Family & Community Services from Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund are serving as a critical safety net,” said Colleen Rodriguez, CEO of Jewish Family & Community Services. “Families who were already at the tipping point before the pandemic are now living in survival mode. The assistance they receive through the grant from Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund helps them have one less worry at the end of the day.”
5 FUNDS ALLOCATED Information available as of November 2020
The Relief Fund grant committee met weekly from March through August and reviewed 321 applications for assistance from nonprofits. The committee included representatives from the City of Jacksonville, The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, Humana, Jaguars Foundation, Jessie Ball duPont Fund, the Jewish Federation and Foundation of Northeast Florida, United Way of Northeast Florida and United Way of St. Johns County. While the Relief Fund distributed $5.4 million in grants, this number does not include leveraged funds reported by agencies, which total $110,688.
Priority went to grant applications targeting provision of emergency food and supplies; financial relief; child-care support for those impacted by work and school closures; technology support for nonprofits to enable remote work and continued delivery of services; and personal protective equipment for community health organizations to deliver medical services.
Total amount Agency Funding Category approved
Jewish Family & Community Services Financial Assistance, Food $1,215,665
Catholic Charities (Jacksonville) Financial Assistance, Food 750,000
Feeding Northeast Florida Food 316,000
BEAM (Beaches Emergency Financial Assistance 200,000 Assistance Ministry)
DESC (Downtown Ecumenical Services Financial Assistance 200,000 Council)
Food, Financial Assistance, ElderSource 165,475 Technology
Catholic Charities (St. Augustine) Financial Assistance, Food 150,000
Salvation Army Northeast Florida Food, Financial Assistance, 150,000 Area Command Housing/Shelter
Ascension St. Vincent's Medical 115,000 Healthcare Foundation
Food, Housing/Shelter, Financial City Rescue Mission 110,000 Assistance, Technology
American Red Cross Northeast Florida Financial Assistance 100,000
Barnabas Center Food, Financial Assistance 100,000
Food, Housing/Shelter, Medical, Changing Homelessness 100,000 Technology
Trinity Rescue Mission Housing/Shelter 100,000
UF Health Jacksonville Technology 100,000
Farm Share Financial Assistance 75,000
6 Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund | COVID-19 Report | November 2020 FUNDS ALLOCATED (Continued)
Total amount Agency Funding Category approved
Sulzbacher Housing/Shelter, Food 75,000
Northeast Florida Women Veterans Inc. Financial Assistance, Food 60,000
Epic Cure Inc. Food 56,000
First Coast Chapter Blessings in a Backpack Food 55,000
Lutheran Social Services of Food 45,000 Northeast Florida, Inc.
The First Coast Leadership Foundation Financial Assistance, Food 40,000
YMCA Child Care 40,000
Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare Technology, Medical 38,000
Ability Housing Financial Assistance 35,000
Family Promise of Jacksonville Financial Assistance 35,000
Volunteers in Medicine Inc. Medical 32,000 When 29-year-old Roger* finally went to the emergency room Nassau County Council on Aging Food 31,000 with shortness of breath, he Youth Crisis Center Technology 30,000 was certain it was COVID-19. The tests for COVID-19 were Pine Castle Inc. Financial Assistance 27,500 negative, but the symptoms were so severe the ER team Food, Financial Assistance, Child Family Support Services of Northeast Florida 25,000 Care continued to look for a cause. They found a tumor in the space Hope Haven Child Care 25,000 between his lungs that was preventing him from taking Mercy Support Services Inc. Financial Assistance 25,000 regular breaths. That’s when everything changed. He and St. Francis House Housing/Shelter 25,000 his young wife had to move in Northwest Jacksonville CDC Financial Assistance, Food 23,500 with family, as Roger was unable to work. But with a referral to Episcopal Children's Services Food 22,000 WeCareJax from the hospital team, access to health care was Operation New Hope Technology, Housing/Shelter 22,000 not on the list of worries. Thanks Historic Eastside Community to the technology support from Food 20,000 Development Corporation the Relief Fund, Roger is getting the timely, quality telehealth Jacksonville Area Sexual Minority Financial Assistance 20,000 care he needs to fight his cancer Youth Network, Inc. discovered during the pandemic. Pie in the Sky Community Alliance, Inc. Food 20,000
*Pseudonyms used to protect identity Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Financial Assistance 20,000
Mission House Financial Assistance, Food 19,900
Emergency Services and Homeless Housing/Shelter 19,000 Coalition of St Johns County, Inc.
Quigley House Financial Assistance 17,000
Daily Manna Food 15,500
BASCA Financial Assistance 15,000
Clay County Habitat for Humanity Financial Assistance 15,000
Downtown Vision Alliance, Inc. Housing/Shelter 15,000
Five S.T.A.R. Veterans Center, Inc. Housing/Shelter, Food 15,000
7 FUNDS ALLOCATED (Continued)
Total amount Agency Funding Category approved
Greater Jacksonville Area USO Council, Inc. Food 15,000
Habitat for Humanity of Financial Assistance 15,000 St. Augustine/St. Johns County
Jewish Community Alliance Child Care 15,000
North Florida School of Special Education Medical 15,000
Pace Center for Girls Medical 15,000
Putnam Habitat for Humanity Financial Assistance 15,000
Renewing Dignity Inc. Food 15,000
The Way Free Medical Clinic, Inc. Medical, Technology 15,000
West Jax Outreach, Inc. Food 15,000 dba Community Health Outreach
Hugs Across the County Food 13,200
Grace and Truth CDC Financial Assistance 12,900
Josie is a 70-year-old who cares Impact Clay, Inc. Food 12,000 for her 85-year-old mother. Together, they share household Kids First of Florida, Inc. Financial Assistance 12,000 expenses, such as rent and The ARC of St. Johns County Medical 11,000 utilities. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Northeast Florida, Betty Griffin Center Housing/Shelter 10,000 Josie was left with no income Center for Sustainable Agricultural to support her share of the Financial Assistance 10,000 household. With overdue rent, Excellence and Conservation she needed to seek help. Clara White Mission Housing/Shelter 10,000 She called United Way’s 211, which referred her to Catholic Clay Behavioral Health Center, Inc. Medical 10,000 Charities. Through funding provided by the Relief Fund and Community Rehabilitation Center Food 10,000 timely case management from Feed the Need of Putnam County Inc. Food 10,000 Catholic Charities, Josie and her family remained safely housed Hunger Fight Food 10,000 until her income was restored. Iglesia de la Ciudad/City Church Food 10,000
LISC Jacksonville Financial Assistance 10,000
Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition Food 10,000
Presbyterian Social Ministries Technology 10,000
St. Mary's Episcopal Church Food, Financial Assistance 10,000 and Outreach Mission
UCOM UrbanServ. Inc. Food 10,000
Hart Felt Ministries Food 8,000
Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center Technology, Food 7,500
Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast Inc., DBA Planned Parenthood Medical 7,500 of South, East and North Florida
Putnam County Bread of Life, Inc. Food 7,500
Ministerio Renacer Inc. Food 6,600
8 Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund | COVID-19 Report | November 2020 FUNDS ALLOCATED (Continued)
Total amount Agency Funding Category approved
Encouraging Relief Center Food 6,000
EPIC Community Services, Inc. Technology 6,000 (dba EPIC Behavioral Healthcare)
Bridge the Gap, Inc. Food 5,800
WeCareJax Technology 5,300
Abundant Life Community Center Food 5,000
Clay County Education Foundation Food 5,000
COJ, Military Affairs & Veterans Department Financial Assistance 5,000
Horn of Salvation Ministries Inc. Food 5,000
Kim's Open Door Food 5,000
Lee Conlee House Inc. Food 5,000
Northside Coalition of Jacksonville Inc. Financial Assistance 5,000
Palatka Christian Service Center Financial Assistance 5,000
St. Augustine Youth Services, Inc. Food 5,000
Veterans Council of St. Johns County Inc. Financial Assistance 5,000
Revitalize Arlington, Inc. Food 3,500
Family First Solution CDC Food 3,000
Yoga 4 Change Technology 3,000
Beaches Council on Aging Inc. Food 2,500
Council of County Veterans Financial Assistance 2,500 County Presidents
Deermeadows Baptist Church Inc. Food 2,500
Hope 4 Veterans Food 2,500
Northeast Florida Young Life Food 2,500
God's House of Solomon Food 2,000
Solution Association for Enrichment Financial Assistance 2,000
TNT mentoring Food 2,000
Vision Is Priceless Technology 1,800
Inman Methodist Food Pantry Food 1,500 and Fellowship, Inc.
L'Arche Jacksonville Medical 1,500
Safe Future Foundation Food 1,500
Mount Olive Primitive Baptist Church Medical 1,300
Three Grains of Rice Missions, Inc. Food 1,000
Total $5,398,440
9 SERVICES SUPPORTED Expenditures and outcomes data were collected once a month from funded organizations. The majority of dollars helped with mortgage and rent payments, food assistance and utility bills for individuals and families affected by COVID-19. The graph below reports 98.7% of spending on distributed grants, including leveraged dollars. The graph reflects data available at the time this report was published.
Further breakdown of Relief Fund Spending - March to November 2020
Mortgage and Rent $2,327,917 Food Assistance $868,865 Other* $463,378 Utilities $455,484 Agency Operations** $378,860 Shelter or Short-term Housing $267,292 Medical and Safety Supplies $228,251 Household Supplies
Technology $209,409 Child Care Child Care $134,257 Technology Household Supplies $104,219 Medical and Safety Supplies
*Other refers to furniture, appliances, daycare, housing supplies, etc. Shelter or Short-term Housing **The majority of agencies were allotted up to 10% grant use for operational expenses. The total grant use for operations was only 7%. Agency Operations
Utilities Success stories spotlighting individuals and families helped by the Relief Fund can be found online at Other unitedwaynefl.org/relieffund/reporting. Food Assistance
Mortgage and Rent
“With the resources provided by the First Coast Relief Fund, we are able to help older adults with food, supplies, mental health counseling through telehealth, telephone reassurance and financial assistance,” said Linda Levin, CEO at ElderSource. “This funding and the services we are able to provide as a result are lifesaving.”
10 Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund | COVID-19 Report | November 2020 LOOKING FORWARD As Northeast Florida moves from initial pandemic response to long-term COVID-19 recovery, we recognize the need for continued support.
While the Relief Fund is now closed and is no longer accepting donations as our community moves toward longer-term recovery solutions, many partners in Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund have specific charitable opportunities to help address long-term needs caused by COVID-19.
Contact The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, the Jewish Federation and Foundation for Northeast Florida, United Way of Northeast Florida and United Way of St. Johns County for more information on how you can support Northeast Florida’s road to recovery.
ADDITIONAL Information Updates on the Relief Fund, including success stories, can be found online at unitedwaynefl.org/relieffund/reporting.
Questions about the Relief Fund should be directed to Sarah Henderson, United Way of Northeast Florida’s director of marketing and communications, at [email protected] or 904-390-3226.
11 Visit unitedwaynefl.org/relieffund/reporting
Contact us [email protected]
12 Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund | COVID-19 Report | November 2020