Bikes For Tykes receives Community Foundation grant
Bikes for Tykes, Inc. announced it has received a $2,500 grant from the Community Foundation of Collier County.
Bikes for Tykes will utilize grant funds to develop the structure and materials needed to meet the financial demands of meeting its mission to provide bicycles to Southwest Florida communities in need. Improved managerial structures and business practices, as well as a new plan to enhance fundraising through new and expanded partnerships will assist BFT in meeting its 2020 goals. These include providing at least 1,450 refurbished and new bikes to children and adults in need in Collier County, supporting its free bicycle repair services, maintenance and repair classes, and bike safety instruction.
“During this time of increasing income inequality, many in our community are unable to afford things that many of us take for granted — things as simple as basic transportation or the ability to give their child a bicycle for Christmas. This funding will help Bikes for Tykes focus our mission and streamline our operations to better address these needs,” said Skip Riffle, BFT founder and president.
Rotary Club of Naples provides Meals of Hope emergency funding
In a special, virtual board meeting, The Rotary Club of Naples board of directors voted to provide special emergency funding to Meals of Hope. The $10,000 gift will help Meals of Hope provide food and other supplies as the agency’s resources have diminished at a time that family needs have been rising significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meals of Hope was started by the Rotary Club of Naples more than a decade ago. The now-independent, nonprofit organization provides thousands of meals each year to hungry families through Collier and Lee counties.
Locally, the Naples Club meets weekly for lunch meetings at the Naples Beach Hotel, hosts annual fundraisers and financially supports community and international projects including Learn2Earn (scholarships for students seeking technical and trade careers), Meals of Hope, Wheelchair Foundation, Gift of Life and medical missions to Haiti. For more information, visit www.rotarynaples.org.
Naples Woman’s Club responds to local coronavirus challenges
The board of Naples Woman’s Club has made two emergency grants to help agencies serving clients during the coronavirus crises. Recipients of these special grants are Meals of Hope and Meals on Wheels. Both agencies are dealing with front line challenges to the service they provide.
Meals of Hope operates a food pantry out of Golden Gate Senior Center. When the center closed due to coronavirus, this program needed to regroup to provide food to their clients. The pantry is now operating both as a mobile unit visiting neighborhoods and as a drive through program.
Meals on Wheels delivers meals biweekly to homebound seniors. It adapted deliveries to deter the possible spread of coronavirus. Many of those served are in the high risk demographic.
The Club is also giving five other grants this spring. Recipients are AVOW, Golden Gate Senior Center, Healthcare Network of SWFL, Neighborhood Health Clinic and Panera Healthcare Clinic. Each grant is $10,000 – $15,000. For further information visit www.NaplesWomansClub.org.
The League Club provides funds for Meals of Hope
In a special session, the The League Club board approved disbursement of its $10,000 emergency fund to Meals of Hope to help provide much needed quality food to hungry families during this difficult time of need. The League Club has a long-standing relationship with this agency through grants and volunteering at Done in a Day packing events. Separately, the regular grant checks approved by the membership in March will be distributed to nonprofits as planned on April 9. For more information, visit mealsofhope.org/ and leagueclub.org/.
St. Matthew’s House requests donations to help with virus relief
As Southwest Florida is impacted by the coronavirus crisis, the organizations that provide relief and support to our community’s most vulnerable population are finding resources stretched. For 32 years, St. Matthew’s House has provided food, shelter and comfort to those struggling with poverty, food insecurity and homelessness.
St. Matthew’s House is the only emergency homeless shelter in Collier County, sheltering more than 300 men, women and children every night, and providing more than 500,000 meals each year to those in need.
Donations of canned goods and food staples such as rice, beans, pasta and other basics are needed. Monetary donations and donations of gently used furnishings, housewares and clothing for St. Matthew’s House thrift stores also are welcome. Curbside drop off is available at all St. Matthew’s House Thrift Store locations in Naples, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers and Immokalee. Thrift Store hours are Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For information, visit STmatthewshouse.org or call 239-774-0500.
Collier County Hunger & Homeless Coalition receives grant
The Collier County Hunger & Homeless Coalition announced it has received a $2,500 grant from the Community Foundation of Collier County. These funds will support its JumpStart Donor Relation Software Development Project.
Jumpstart is the vision of grant-makers who are working to overcome the systemic challenges of nonprofit capacity building on a coordinated, national level. Led and implemented by Network for Good’s impact team, the program’s success is driven by research, results and resources.
The Community Foundation of Collier County awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process. Selected organizations receive grant dollars from the Changing Needs Fund. This fund is made up of donors who believe in the Community Foundation’s ability to identify and grant to the most community’s most current needs. ¦
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