The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund is helping nonprofits navigate unprecedented challenges and helping community members care for each other and providing an avenue for people to help one another.
The Foundation has also helped individuals establish funds that allow them to raise money and put it to work to help front-line workers and others in our community. The Johnstown Pay It Forward – People Helping People Fund does just that: it delivers meals to health care workers and others on the front lines of the pandemic by purchasing food from restaurants and food businesses, which have lost revenue in recent weeks.
The effort started as a Facebook page and quickly grew, raising over $12,000. Then they turned to CFA to help with fundraising and handling tax-deductible donations so the effort could continue to grow. Managing the fund through CFA allows donations to be tax deductible and provides a secure, simple avenue for donors to participate in this kind of grassroots initiatives.