Several Turlock charities which have suffered monetarily throughout the pandemic are set to receive tens of thousands of dollars in relief funding through Stanislaus County’s Non-Profit Support Grant Program.
The program was approved by the Board of supervisors late last year and first doled out $2.4 million to non-profits providing services for youth or community-centered arts and culture. In August of this year, Supervisors approved an additional $1 million for the program in light of an ongoing, widespread need, and Turlock charities like the Salvation Army, United Samaritans Foundation, Aspiranet and Haven’s Women Center of Stanislaus were included in the second round of funding.
The 2020 Stanislaus Nonprofit Sector report, administered by the Stanislaus Community Foundation, concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the demand on non-profit services while diminishing revenue streams from public sources, private donors and larger philanthropic foundations. Further, this resulted in widespread need for general operating support and that flexible funding would allow non-profits to be agile in their operations during these trying times.
At the Turlock Salvation Army, the organization suffered a $30,000 loss last year when the pandemic forced them to transition their annual Kettle Kick-Off Luncheon to a drive-thru format. Luckily, the charity will receive $30,000 through the Non-Profit Support Program.
Captain Jeffrey Breazeale said the Salvation Army will use the funds to provide services in the Senior Activity Center. After closing in early 2020 due to COVID, the center opened back up to local seniors two months ago and provides fun and games for the older demographic while helping to connect them with community resources like medical and in-home care.
After nearly two years of isolation, Breazeale said the program is more important now than ever.
“Our seniors have been cooped up and not able to get out as much as the younger population has. It has affected them because they haven’t been able to have that social interactivity,” he said. “We’re reintroducing them back into a lifestyle of movement and interaction and helping in any way we can.”
Since the Senior Activity Center reopened, anywhere from 12 to 20 senior community members attend daily, Breazeale said. One attendee has participated every single day, he said, happy to be out of the house again.
“He hasn’t missed a day yet; he’s so excited,” Breazeale said.
In addition to the Salvation Army’s $30,000, United Samaritans Foundation received $50,000 from the County program, Haven Women’s Center of Stanislaus received $20,000 and Aspiranet received $10,000. In total, Stanislaus County received $4.5 million in requests from non-profits for the second round of funding. Out of 74 applications, 33 were recommended for funding.
