Beginning in March, the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation (PACF) began working to raise money for its Safety Net Fund and Hunger Fund to provide COVID-19 relief grants to area nonprofit agencies impacted by the pandemic. The community answered the PACF's call for help and together they've raised more than $320,000 for the two COVID-19 relief funds. The PACF has made a commitment to grant 100% of donations received for COVID-19 relief back into the region.

The PACF recently awarded $38,241 in its fifth round of COVID-19 pandemic response grants, bringing the total awarded to date to more than $296,365, a total which also includes PACF Donor Advised Fund grants. Several of the recent grants were awarded through partnership with the Sisters Health Foundation (noted with an *). Agencies that received funding during the PACF's fifth round of grants include:

  • Calhoun County Committee on Aging - $5,821 to help purchase a vehicle to meet increased demand for home meal delivery. *
  • Calhoun County Family Resource Network - $2,770 to purchase shelving for food pantry. *
  • Choices Child Care Resources and Referral Agency - $2,000 to purchase personal protection equipment for childcare providers in Wood, Gilmer, Pleasants, Ritchie, and Wirt counties
  • Community Resources, Inc. (CRI) - $4,000 to support program to provide rent and mortgage assistance to individuals impacted by COVID-19 and $2,500 to enable families to double their SNAP dollars to purchase produce at CRI's farmers market.
  • Friendship Kitchen - $2,000 to purchase food for meal program. *
  • Gilmer County Historical Society - $1,000 in operating support.
  • Gilmer Public Library - $900 to purchase solar charging stations to place outside of library to assist those accessing internet for remote learning.
  • Little Kanawha Resource Conservation and Development – $4,000 to support the Project Sharing program. *
  • Normantown Historical Community Center - $500 to purchase food for the food pantry that serves Gilmer County residents.
  • Parkersburg Catholic Schools - $1,750 to purchase electrostatic sprayers to disinfect schools.
  • PATCH 21 - $3,000 to install internet server and access points throughout Roane County to enable area students and teachers to access the internet for online learning needs.
  • Westbrook - $5,000 for deep cleaning and sanitation of facilities. *
  • Wirt County Ministerial Alliance/Hope Shop Food Pantry - $3,000 to stock their food pantry. *

While the PACF is best known for partnering with local citizens to build permanent long-term charitable funds for the betterment our region, the Foundation is also flexible and uniquely positioned to serve as a strong community partner in emergencies. The PACF is actively contacting nonprofits to assess COVID-19 impact on their communities and identifying ways to respond to these needs. Agencies seeking assistance should contact the PACF at 304-428-4438 or by email to marian.clowes@pacfwv.com.

Donations to support the PACF's Hunger Fund and Safety Net Fund are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated. To learn more about these funds and the work that the Foundation is doing to address COVID-19 in our region, visit www.pacfwv.com/COVID19.